UGI Utilities Warns Customers About Scam Phone Numbers in Online Ads
UGI Utilities alerts customers about fraudulent sponsored online ads containing scam phone numbers that could delay emergency response and lead to financial exploitation.
UGI Utilities, Inc. has issued a warning to customers about sponsored online advertisements created by scammers that appear in search results and direct people to fraudulent phone numbers. The utility company reported that these deceptive ads have tricked customers into calling incorrect numbers when seeking assistance with gas emergencies or account issues.
In serious cases, customers calling the scam numbers to report the smell of natural gas were misled into believing they needed to pay for leak investigations. UGI emphasizes that there is never any cost to customers for the company to investigate potential gas leaks. The proper procedure when smelling natural gas is to evacuate immediately and move at least the length of a football field away before calling UGI at 800-276-2722 or 911.
The Federal Trade Commission has also been warning about scammers creating sponsored ads that appear in online searches or on social media platforms containing fraudulent contact information. This type of scam poses significant safety risks as it could delay emergency response during critical situations involving natural gas leaks.
For account-related inquiries, UGI confirms that customers should only call 800-276-2722. The company serves more than 760,000 customers and provides additional information through its official website at https://www.ugi.com.
This warning highlights the growing sophistication of online scams targeting utility customers and the importance of verifying contact information through official channels. The incident underscores the need for increased consumer awareness about sponsored online content and the potential dangers of relying on search engine results without proper verification of legitimate business contact information.