Eversource Reminds Customers to Avoid Scams During Holidays

HYANNIS – The holiday season is underway and Eversource is reminding customers to be aware of scammers.

Eversource is joining with other utilities across the country to help customers avoid getting scammed during Utilities United Against Scams Awareness Week.

“Unfortunately, we have to tell our customers quite often, not just this time of year, but throughout the year,” said Eversource spokesman Reid Lamberty.

Sophisticated scammers are using the phone, online or even home visits to exploit people and steal their money or personal information.

Lamberty said getting scammed can be costly for customers, and that scammers are finding unique ways to steal.

“According to the better business bureau, the median loss for utility scam victims is $500,” Lamberty said. “That is a significant amount of money, and unfortunately a lot of our customers get targeted.”

Phone calls that warn of immediate service termination due to late payments is the most common con.

“That will never, ever happen,” Lamberty said.

Eversource will never demand immediate payment in person or over the phone.

The company also never requires the use of prepaid debit cards, such as Green Dot MoneyPak, Vanilla or Reloadit.

Representatives will also never request customers meet at a payment center at a department store or grocery store.

Eversource does not solicit door-to-door or on the phone on behalf of third-party energy suppliers.

“If you do want to know if this is an Eversource employee or someone who is trying to steal my money, all of our employees carry photo identification, our field workers wear company logoed clothing and we drive company vehicles,” Lamberty said.

Customers who feel they may be the target of a scam can call Eversource at 800-592-2000. Eversource can verify if the person at the door or on the phone is in fact a company employee.

Eversource also recommends customers notify local law enforcement if they believe they were the target of a scam.

“We track these types of customer concerns and we do report them to our state regulators,” Lamberty said.

Eversource.com and the utilitiesunited.org provide more information on how to protect personal information and avoid becoming a victim of utility scams.

Concerned customers can also report scams and fraudulent activity by calling the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy & Response Division Hotline at 617-727-8400.