National Grid phone scam hits St. Lawrence County 

BY JOSH DAVIS
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG– A new round of phone scams is circulating in St. Lawrence County.

Sherman Inn owner Donna Reagen says her business in Ogdensburg received a scam call from someone claiming to be from National Grid and attempting to collect an overdue bill. 

“I knew it was false,” she said, but wanted to make the public aware to prevent others from becoming subject to fraud. 

She said she was given a case number to provide with a payment, adding that these types of calls try to intimidate the answerer into complying with their demands. 

“You get into a panic” she said, saying that scammers use fear to urge their victims into compliance. 

State Police Public Information officer Brandi Ashley said that Troopers had not been alerted of the National Grid scam as of Thursday morning, but warned against providing any personal information over the phone. 

Trooper Ashley also warned against ever using gift cards as a form of payment.

Do not send gift cards for a type payment if people are requesting it, is the main thing we need to focus on. Do not provide personal information over the phone.

National Grid is aware of these scams and provides information to help consumers know when a scammer is calling.

The utility says that your Caller ID may even say “National Grid” when a scammer is calling, but does not call consumers to collect payments in this fashion. 

If you are dealing with someone over the phone, note that National Grid representatives will know your account number; never offer that information to a caller. 

Consumers can also ask the caller to provide the last five digits of their 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 your account balance, hang up immediately.

Call National Grid, local law enforcement, or New York State Police. You can also report fraud and suspicious communications to the FTC.