Eversource Warns Weston, Redding, Easton Customers About Billing Scam

Eversource is warning small business owners of a billing scam.

They were alerted to an attempt to bilk Popover Bakery and Café in Simsbury out of money through a phone call from someone claiming to be from Eversource. The caller threatened to shut off their power in two hours unless they made an immediate payment.

“It was a terrible feeling - we had a full restaurant at the time and I knew if our power was shut off we’d lose a lot of business on one of our busiest days of the week,” said Pam Paydos, Popover Bakery and Café co-owner. “The person on the phone sounded legitimate and was very convincing at first. But when the person told me I had to go to a payment center at Big Y or Walmart, I knew something wasn’t right.”

Paydos realized she was the target of a scam after calling Eversource directly to discuss the status of her account. Scammers in Connecticut claim to be from Eversource and threaten to shut off service unless the business owner makes an immediate payment by purchasing a prepaid debit card.

“These scams work by scaring customers and catching them off guard, hoping they’ll ignore their better judgment and make a payment or provide personal information,” said Penni Conner, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at Eversource. “If any of our customers suspect someone is impersonating an Eversource representative - whether on the phone or in-person - even if they show identification, they should contact us immediately or call the local police.”

Eversource customers should know that representatives never demand instant payment over the phone and don’t require the use of pre-paid debit cards. Customers can verify the status of their account by speaking with an Eversource representative.

Eversource urges anyone who has any doubts about a call or a home visit to contact the company directly at 1-800-286-2000 and report the incident to local police immediately.

Customers may also visit http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft to learn what to do if their identity is stolen or their personal or financial information has been compromised.