Scammers Targeting Hampton-Area Unitil Customers

Unitil officials are urging locals to beware of a scam that individuals are using in the area to trick customers into making emergency payments to avoid service disconnection.

Unitil spokesman Alec O'Meara said customers from throughout the Seacoast area have reported that they've been contacted by someone posing as an employee of the utility company. O'Meara said the customers were told they had to make a cash payment using a pre-paid Green Dot card within the next hour "or face immediate disconnection."

O'Meara said the approach is a part of a national scam known as the "Green Dot scam," and said any customers who receive an  demand about a payment shouldn't make the payment and should contact Unitil's customer service department directly to verify their account status.

"Unitil will at times reach out to customers by phone if there is a payment issue or to offer payment options, but never demands the use of a pre-paid card to make payment over the phone," said O'Meara. 

Payments to Unitil can be made through variety of means, including check, credit card, debit card, and through the company’s website, he said.

The following are Unitil’s customer service numbers:

- For the NH Seacoast Area: 1-800-582-7276

- For the NH Capital Area: 1-800-852-3339

- For All NH Natural Gas Customers: 1-866-933-3820

- For Massachusetts: 1-888-301-7700

- For Maine: 1-866-933-3821