UGI Intensifies Campaign Against Utility Scammers Targeting Customers Through Fraudulent Ads
UGI Utilities is expanding efforts to combat scammers using deceptive online ads and phone numbers to trick utility customers into paying for non-existent services, highlighting the importance of using verified contact information.
UGI Utilities is escalating its campaign against scammers who are increasingly targeting utility customers through fraudulent online advertisements and deceptive phone numbers. The company is coordinating with law enforcement agencies to raise awareness about these sophisticated scams that continue to victimize customers despite ongoing public education efforts. Multiple UGI customers have reported falling for these schemes and losing money to fraudulent operators posing as legitimate utility representatives.
The scammers are creating sophisticated online advertisements that appear in search results when customers look up utility contact information. These ads often include phone numbers or direct customers to fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate utility company portals. When customers call these numbers, scammers pose as representatives from whatever utility company the customer is attempting to contact, using high-pressure tactics to demand payment for services that are typically free or non-existent.
Several UGI customers have reported being tricked into paying for service-related issues that normally involve no charges, including being told they needed to pay fees for UGI to investigate potential gas leaks. UGI emphasizes that the company never charges customers to investigate possible gas leaks or other safety concerns. The scammers typically ask customers to confirm account information including names, phone numbers, and email addresses, then demand payment through unusual methods that legitimate utility companies would not accept.
The most effective protection against these scams is for customers to know and use their utility's verified contact information. For UGI customers, the only phone number they should use is 800-276-2722 and the official website is UGI.com. Customers should be particularly cautious of sponsored ads that appear in search engine results when looking up phrases like utility phone numbers or bill payment options. These advertisements often direct customers to scam operations rather than legitimate utility services.
UGI serves more than 760,000 natural gas and electric customers and continues to work with law enforcement to identify and stop these fraudulent operations. The company urges customers to be vigilant and only use verified contact methods when addressing utility concerns, emphasizing that legitimate utility companies do not use high-pressure tactics or demand unusual payment methods for standard services.