UGI Utilities, Inc. has issued a warning to customers about sponsored online ads created by scammers that appear in search results and direct people to fraudulent phone numbers. These deceptive advertisements have tricked customers into calling the wrong number when seeking assistance with gas odor reports or account issues.
In multiple instances, customers who detected the smell of natural gas called the scam phone numbers listed in these ads and were misled into believing they needed to pay for leak investigation services. UGI emphasizes that there is never any cost to customers for the utility company to investigate potential gas leaks. The proper safety protocol requires immediate evacuation to at least a football field's distance before calling UGI's legitimate number at 800-276-2722 or 911.
Customers have also contacted the fraudulent numbers regarding account inquiries, unaware they were not speaking with actual UGI representatives. The company stresses that there is only one legitimate phone number for customer service: 800-276-2722. This warning comes as the Federal Trade Commission continues to alert the public about scammers creating sponsored ads that appear in online searches and social media platforms containing fake contact information.
The prevalence of these scam advertisements poses significant safety risks, particularly regarding gas leak reports where delayed response times could lead to dangerous situations. For additional information about UGI Utilities, Inc., which serves more than 760,000 customers as a natural gas and electric utility provider, visit https://www.ugi.com.
