POTSDAM -- Potsdam Police Department are warning residents of an ongoing scam where the perpetrators claim to be from National Grid and threaten to shut off one’s power.

The scam was reported to Potsdam Police Dec. 8.

In this scam an unknown caller that claims to be with the electric company. In the most recent case reported to the department, the unknown caller even had the National Grid account number associated with the account.

The unknown caller threatens that the power will be shut off within a half hour unless a payment is made and then asks for the payment information.

The Potsdam police are urging residents to be certain of who they are speaking with.

Officers say the best way to prevent any type of fraud is to contact the accepted telephone number for the institution, which you are attempting to do business with.

For example, the electric bill has a contact number listed on it or a credit card would have a phone number printed on the back of it.

Anyone who receives a call similar to this, should hang up and locate a number that is accepted for the company and contact the accepted number prior to providing any personal information.