NEW: National Grid Warns Customers About New Bill Payment Scam
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
National Grid is warning customers about a utility bill payment scam affecting unsuspecting customers in its New England service area.
Scammers claiming to be National Grid representatives are calling customers and asking that they purchase Green Dot MoneyPak card to pay outstanding balances or to pay for the replacement of faulty meters. Customers are then asked to reveal a 14-digit security serial number located on the card. Providing this number allows access to funds on the pre-paid credit card.
National Grid does not ask customers to directly pay for faulty equipment and is not conducting a Green Dot MoneyPak program.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMoneyPak cards allow consumers to add a dollar value to the card, which can be used for anything from adding money a to PayPal account to paying utility bills. Each MoneyPak card comes with a scratch-off 14-digit serial number which should never be given to anyone unless the consumer is 100 percent certain they know exactly who they are dealing with and the transaction is legitimate.
Customers who have been solicited should immediately notify local law enforcement officials to investigate. National Grid customers should call the company if they believe they have been contacted under fraudulent circumstances or if they believe they have been victims of the scam. Electric customers in New England and natural gas customers in Rhode Island should call 800-322-3223. Natural gas customers in Massachusetts should call 1-800-732-3400.
