Phishing attack targets business customers of crisis-hit energy provider

Customers of crisis-hit CNG have been targeted by a phishing attack in the wake of reports the energy supplier will pass its clients into the hands of the industry regulator.

The company has made customers aware of the phone calls about “potential contract termination” which are coming from a cloned phone number purporting to be from CNG.

The Harrogate-based company has been working with restructuring firm Interpath Advisory for several weeks to try and find a way out of the crisis which has engulfed the industry.

Last night Sky News reported that the company was “on the brink” of entering Ofgem’s Supplier of Last Resort system after no viable bids were received.

This would mean CNG Energy’s 45,000 business customers would be moved to a new supplier, although Ofgem, CNG and Interpath have not yet commented publicly on the report.

However CNG has warned this afternoon that it has learned its customers are being targeted by a phishing attack.

Phishing refers to when individuals are scammed to reveal personal information, such as bank account details and credit card numbers.

In a statement, CNG said: “We have been made aware of a phishing attack where a 3rd party has cloned our phone number and is approaching CNG customers advising changes to their terms of contract and potential contract termination. Please be assured that CNG is not making these calls and we are taking no such action.”

The company has requested that customers get in touch directly if they believe they have been targeted.

In the last three months 13 energy providers have failed because of a combination of a big rise in wholesale energy prices has combined with the price cap on household bills.