Connecticut Light & Power Company is warning customers about a scam that is ongoing targeting those who use the utility service.
The electric company sent a tweet out about the possible scam, saying that customers shouldn’t respond to threatening shut-off calls. CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said that the scam is targeting customers of all utility companies in Connecticut, and many across the nation.
The scam is executed initially with a call demanding the customers send cash via a pre-paid credit card to prevent their service being turned off. However, this is not how CL&P conducts business, and is not the protocol used to warn people about services being shut off due to non-payment. If you get a call like this you should hang up and call the official CL&P customer service (860-947-2000 or 800-286-2000) to ask about the status of your account.
The most recent incident impacted a restaurant in Branford, but the people who answered the phone hung up immediately and called the police.
The Meriden Police Department says they are investigating similar fraudulent calls to Northeast Utilities customers. There are six documented cases in the town over the past two months.
