National Grid is warning customers to stay alert after seeing an increase in scam attempts targeting both homes and businesses.
The company said scammers often pose as National Grid representatives and pressure people into making immediate payments or sharing personal information.
According to National Grid, one common tactic involves threatening customers with an immediate service shutoff, even when no prior notice was given or the account is current. Scammers may also demand payment through wire transfers, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, or third-party payment apps. National Grid said it never requests payment this way.
Customers are also urged to be cautious of door-to-door scammers. National Grid employees and contractors always carry photo identification with the company logo. Anyone who shows up without proper ID should not be allowed inside, and customers should contact National Grid or local law enforcement.
Phone scams remain a major concern. Caller ID may falsely display “National Grid,” even when the call is fraudulent. The company said its representatives already know a customer’s account number and will not ask customers to provide it. If a caller cannot verify the account or asks about balances, customers should hang up immediately.
National Grid also warned about email and text message scams designed to trick customers into clicking malicious links or sharing account details. Legitimate service-related text messages come from specific short codes, including 59528 for service appointments, 64743 for outage alerts, and 647432 for payment reminders.
The company cautioned customers about credit-related scams involving so-called Credit Privacy Numbers, or CPNs. These nine-digit numbers are not issued by the government, and using them for utility service is illegal. National Grid said anyone misled into purchasing a CPN may be a fraud victim.
Customers who suspect a scam are encouraged to contact National Grid directly, report the incident to local law enforcement, or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. More information about protecting against scams is available on National Grid’s website.
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