The Oneida County Sheriff's office is investigating another National Grid scam in Central New York. 

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a complaint from a local business regarding a National Grid Scam. The owner of the business reported that if he did not pay over $900 via "Money Pack - Express Cards" within an hour, the business's power would be shut off. The owner immediately suspected a scam and googled the number (1-877-474-1121) which returned several results stating this number is linked to a scam. The victim reported that the male caller sounded legitimate and was even able to tell of the nearest stores that offer the Express Cards. The calls were verified as a scam from the National Grid website which states "Customer's phone payments are accepted, however never demanded."

The National Grid website offers the following tips to avoid scams:

  • 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 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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