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 wrong numbers when seeking assistance, including during potential gas leak emergencies. In several 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 company to investigate potential gas leaks. The proper procedure when smelling natural gas is to evacuate immediately, move at least the length of a football field away from the area, and then call UGI at 800-276-2722 or 911. The scam advertisements have also targeted customers seeking account assistance, with UGI confirming that there is only one legitimate phone number for customer service and account inquiries: 800-276-2722.
The company serves more than 760,000 natural gas and electric customers and provides additional information at https://www.ugi.com. This warning aligns with ongoing alerts from the Federal Trade Commission about scammers creating sponsored ads that appear in online searches and social media platforms containing fraudulent contact information. The practice poses significant safety risks, particularly when customers experiencing gas emergencies might delay calling proper authorities while contacting scam numbers.
UGI reiterates that customers should only use the official company number for all communications and report any suspicious advertisements to appropriate authorities. The implications of these fraudulent ads extend beyond financial scams, potentially endangering lives by delaying critical emergency responses during gas leak situations where immediate evacuation and professional assistance are essential for public safety.
