Eversource warns of biggest red flags and offers tips for customers to protect themselves

• Verify the caller is legitimate by asking for basic information.  Eversource representatives will always be able to provide the name on the account, the account address and the exact past due balance.
• Never immediately pay, regardless of what the caller knows about the account or offers as an incentive. If the caller is requesting an immediate payment using a third-party service, at another location or via a prepaid debit card, hang up immediately and contact Eversource.
• Eversource representatives never require customers to go to a department or grocery store to make a payment.
• Eversource does not solicit door-to-door or on the phone on behalf of third-party energy suppliers.
• All Eversource employees carry photo identification; field workers wear clothing with the company logo and drive company vehicles.
• Customers should never provide personal, financial, or account information to any unsolicited person on the phone, at the door, or online, even if they seem legitimate.
• Customers who are scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment receive several written notices, including an alert on their bill with information on how to maintain their service.
• Customers who doubt a call, in-person interaction, text, or email is legitimate should call Eversource directly at the number on their bill to confirm the authenticity of the contact.
• Customers should not search for Eversource’s phone number or website through a search engine as scammers can manipulate results and direct customers to an incorrect number. You can find contact information, including the website, on your Eversource bill.
• Do not accept offers from anyone to pay the customer’s bill or provide any other service for a fee. Even if the person claims to be an Eversource employee, it's likely a scam.
• Do not click on links or call numbers that appear in unexpected emails or texts.  Clicking on a link can make a computer infected with malware, including viruses that can steal information and compromise the computer.