ESL Warns of Scam Texts Posing as Customer Accounts
Scammers posing as ESL are sending text messages to potential customers in the Rochester area, asking for personal information.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Local Services
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A text message from a 585 phone number claimed a recipient's ESL account had been restricted due to usual fraudulent activity, though the recipient does not have an ESL account. The report comes after ESL issued an earlier warning this year about scammers seeking customers' personal information.
Why it matters
Scam messages that impersonate local businesses and create a sense of urgency can lead people to share sensitive data with criminals. Residents in Rochester and across New York State are advised to treat unexpected account alerts with caution.
The scam text came from a 585 phone number and claimed an account was restricted for usual fraudulent activity. ESL's customer service number is 585-336-1000, and the company says it will never ask customers to verify information through links in texts.
The players
Emily Putnam
Emily Putnam is a reporter for News10NBC, the Rochester-area television station that reported on the scam text it received.
New York State Attorney General's Office
The New York State Attorney General's Office is the state's chief legal officer and issues consumer protection guidance on scams, including advice to be wary of texts that request personal information or create urgency.
The details
The message told the recipient that an ESL account had been restricted due to usual fraudulent activity, even though the recipient has no ESL account. ESL says it never asks customers to verify information through a text message link or share sensitive information by phone or text, and the New York State Attorney General's Office advises treating texts or calls that request personal information or create urgency with suspicion.
Timeline
Earlier in 2026: ESL issued a warning about scammers seeking customers' personal information.
Wednesday night, November 11, 2026: A News10NBC reporter received the scam text message.
Consumer Guidance
The reported text fits the pattern the New York State Attorney General's Office describes, in which messages requesting personal information or creating urgency should be treated as suspicious. Residents receiving similar alerts in Rochester are advised to verify directly through the company's official customer service line rather than through links in the message.
If you receive a text claiming your ESL account is restricted, do not click any links or share personal information. Call ESL directly at 585-336-1000 to confirm whether any account issue exists.
The takeaway
Legitimate businesses rarely ask for verification through text links, so contacting the company through a number you already know is the safest way to check an alert. Pausing before responding to urgent-sounding messages is one of the simplest ways to avoid being scammed.
Further reading
For more on protecting yourself from fraud, browse Local Services coverage in Rochester.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHEC.
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