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City of Worcester alerts residents to fake National Grid calls

  • Posted by Worcester News Jul 5 - Filed in News - #Worcester  #scam  #National Grid  - 1,142 views

    WORCESTER — City officials are warning residents about scam phone calls falsely claiming that customers must switch their electricity supplier or make an immediate payment to avoid having their power shut off.

    The City of Worcester said the callers have been specifically mentioning the Green Worcester ElectriCITY Aggregation program, but stressed that enrollment in the program does not affect National Grid's electric delivery service.

    According to the city, the callers falsely claim that National Grid will disconnect a customer's electricity unless they change suppliers or pay a large sum of money. Officials said those claims are not true.

    Residents are urged to watch for several warning signs, including threats of immediate shutoff without prior notice, demands for payment when an account is current, requests to pay by wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency, and requests for an account number. The city noted that National Grid already has customers' account information and does not need them to provide it over the phone.

    Officials also cautioned that caller ID can be spoofed to display "National Grid," making the call appear legitimate.

    If residents receive a suspicious call, the city recommends asking the caller for the last 5 digits of the account number. If the caller cannot provide the information, residents should hang up and contact National Grid directly to verify the status of their account.

    More information about contacting National Grid is available at https://www.nationalgridus.com/Regionalized/Contact-Us/call-us.

    Residents can learn more about the city's Smart Energy Advice program, including utility bill assistance and how to read an energy bill, at https://www.worcesterma.gov/energyadvice.

    Additional information about recognizing and avoiding utility scams is available from National Grid at https://www.nationalgridus.com/Our-Company/Scam-Alert.

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