SHERIFFS OFFICE

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY

KEVIN M. WELLS
SHERIFF
Correctional Facility
Daniel Dominie Jail Administrator
(315) 379-2367
(315) 379-2263 - Fax

Public Safety Building

48 Court Street, Canton, New York 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2222
Fax: (315) 279-0335

Barb Carbone Secretary to Sheriff

SCOTT F. BONNO
UNDERSHERIFF
Civil Division
Mike MacCue-Chief Civil Officer
(315) 379-2221
(315) 379-0162 - Fax

December 30, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Office and National Grid warns consumers of on-going payment scams.
St. Lawrence County, NY - The St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Office through the countys Emergency Service Dispatch
Center has received several calls from St. Lawrence County residents concerned about scam phone calls from people
saying they are National Grid employees and wanting the consumer to go to a local store and obtain GreenDot Money Pak
Cards to pay a bill, over the phone.

These utility bill scammers, showing frustrating persistence, continue to target National Grid customers
demanding immediate payment for bill balances that customers likely do not owe. The fraudulent callers are claiming to
be from National Grid and threatening customers with immediate service shut-off unless they provide payment, credit
card or bank account information that can be used to access the accounts.
There have been numerous reports of these types of scams in several states over the past year and National Grid
continues to advise customers to be wary of any caller who threatens service termination unless an immediate payment is
made. Unsuspecting customers fall prey to these tactics and in some cases give up personal and bank account
information.
National Grid does contact customers with past due balances by phone to offer payment options and to remind
them that service shutoff is a possibility if they fail to pay their past due balance. If customers wish, they can arrange for
a payment by check, credit card, or debit card if they speak directly to a customer service representative. Payment can
also be made by credit card or debit card without a representatives assistance.
Customers should verify they are speaking with a National Grid representative. One way to do this is to have
available the last five digits of their National Grid account number and ask the caller to provide those numbers. If the

caller cant provide the information, if you doubt the caller is a National Grid representative, or if have any questions
about your balance, hang up immediately and call our customer contact center at 1-800-642-4272.
Some National Grid customers have experienced a phone scam involving GreenDot Money-Pak cards. They
receive a call from someone who claims to be collecting from National Grid who demands immediate payment by Green
Dot Money-Pak and threatens that electricity and/or natural gas will be turned off.
The Sheriffs Office and National Grid urges customers to be cautious when speaking with callers and
offers helpful tips on how to learn to protect yourself from these scams:

National Grid will know your account number. Never offer account information to a caller

Ask the caller to provide the last five digits of your National Grid account number. If the caller doesnt know your
account number and fishes for help, take charge and hang up immediately

National Grid may ask for a payment over the phone, but will leave the method of payment to the customer

National Grid will not contact you demanding immediate payment by wire transfer, Green Dot Money-Pak or any
other pre-paid card service

Never -- under any circumstances -- should you ever offer personal or financial information to someone who you
cannot identify

Be suspicious of callers who you cannot identify. Hang up and call them back if you are uncertain
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, dont let
them in and please call National Grid or your local law enforcement.
Take charge and remember if a caller doesnt know your account number and fishes for help, hang up
immediately. Customers who believe they have fallen victim to the scam should contact National Grid and local law
enforcement officials immediately.

National Grid Contact: Virginia Limmiatis with National Grid at 315-452-7708

St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Office: 315-379-2222 or 379-2365