National Grid Joins Nationwide Effort To Raise Awareness Around Utility Customer Scams
November 16, 2016/ 3BL Media/ - National Grid has joined with electric, gas, and water companies from across the United States and Canada to raise awareness about scams targeting utility customers. Today, November 16, is the inaugural Utilities United Against Scams Day, and it will be supported by a week-long advocacy and awareness campaign focused on exposing the tactics scammers use to steal money from utility customers and on educating customers on how to protect themselves.
One of the most common types of utility scams involves customers receiving unsolicited telephone, electronic, or in-person communications from an individual claiming to be a utility company representative. The scammer warns that the customer’s electric or other utility service will be disconnected if the customer fails to make an immediate payment – typically using a reloadable debit card or other non-traceable form of payment.
Complicating matters, these scammers often employ authentic-seeming phone numbers, graphics, uniforms, and other materials.
Signs of Potential Scam Activity:
- The supposed utility representative becomes angry and tells the customer his or her account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment is not made – usually within less than an hour.
- The caller instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card – widely available at retail stores – then call him or her back supposedly to make a payment to their utility.
- The caller asks the customer for the prepaid card’s receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card’s funds.
How Customers Can Protect Themselves:
- Utilities will never ask or require a customer with a delinquent account to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
- Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail, or in person.
- Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification included with their regular monthly bill – never a single notification one hour before disconnection.
- If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, hang up and call the local police then your utility. Never dial the phone number the scammers provide.
Specific to National Grid:
- Ask to be shown an official National Grid ID. If you are in any doubt as to whether an individual is a National Grid employee, tell the person to wait outside and call the National Grid customer service number to confirm. For Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island customers can call 718-643-4050. In New England, customers should call National Grid’s Customer Contact Center at 1-800-322-3223.
National Grid does contact customers with past due balances by phone to offer payment options, but never demands direct payment over the telephone. If customers wish, they can arrange for a payment by check, credit card or debit card if they speak directly to a customer service representative. Payment can also be made by credit card or debit card without a representative’s assistance.
Customers who suspect that they have been the victim of fraud, or who feel threatened during contact with one of these scammers, should contact local authorities and then their utility. The Federal Trade Commission’s website is also a good source of information about how you can protect your personal information.
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For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, or our Connecting website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, Like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.
Media contact:
Paula Haschig
National Grid
