National Grid is warning its north country customers to beware of a nationwide scam.

Virginia Limmiatis, National Grid media relations representative, said the scammers are claiming utility costumers are eligible for a federal program to have their energy bill directly paid from a financial institution account.

She said the customer is asked via phone, email, text message or by someone going door-to-door for private information such as a bank account number, routing/transit number and social security number. In return, they are given an account number to send their bill payment, which instead gives the money to the scammers.

Ms. Limmiatis said National Grid received 140 calls from customers on Tuesday alone claiming they had been targeted by the scam. She said customers in St. Lawrence and Clinton counties had been among those targeted.

All National Grid employees carry a company-issued identification card and are required to show it to a customer upon request.

Ms. Limmiatis said National Grid is taking on a collaborative effort to catch those perpetrating the scam.

The customer contact number to report a suspected instance of fraud is 1-800-642-4272.

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