National Grid Scammers On The Rise In Upstate NY
A family member got a call saying their bill is seriously delinquent. The caller went on to say the power would be cut-off if a check wasn't overnighted to National Grid.
The scam involves a caller who pretends to be with National Grid (or another utility) and tells the customer their power will be shut off immediately unless the customer purchases a pre-paid debit card in a specific amount, such as Green Dot card, and provides the caller with the card’s account number, or in the case of business customers, by way of a Western Union money transfer. The scenario can change, but the goal of the scammer remains the same: scare customers into making hasty, often large payments.
If you get a call from someone calling on behalf of National Grid, try to get as much information as you can then hang up and call National Grid and report the call to National Grid Upstate New York. 1-800-867-5222 or contact National to report the call you received.
National Grid over the past few years continues to receive calls from residential and business customers about this scam. Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in replicating National Grid’s recorded messaging and directions for phone prompts making it more difficult to differentiate an actual National Grid call from an imposter’s call.
National Grid does contact customers with past due balances by phone to offer payment options, but never demands direct payment through the use of a pre-paid debit card and never accepts payment through these cards. National Grid urges customers to be cautious of scammers and offers the following tips:
- National Grid representatives will know your account number; never offer that information to a caller
- Ask the caller to provide the last five digits of your National Grid account number. If the caller doesn’t know your account number and you have any doubt the caller is a National Grid representative, or if they have any questions about account balance and fish for help, take charge and hang up immediately. Call National Grid or local law enforcement officials
- National Grid may ask for a payment over the phone but will leave the method of payment to the customer
- National Grid will not contact customers demanding immediate payment by wire transfer, Green Dot Money-Pak or any other pre-paid card service
- Never — under any circumstances — offer personal or financial information to someone who you cannot identify
- Every National Grid employee carries a photo ID card, and any contractor doing work for the company is also required to carry ID. If someone requesting entry into your home or place of business does not show an ID card, don’t let that person in and please call National Grid or your local law enforcement.
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