North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (NGEMC) has issued an urgent public warning after a member reported an aggressive new scam involving fraudulent payment barcodes designed to steal customer funds.

The utility company confirmed receiving a report from a member who was targeted by a sophisticated scheme involving unsolicited cold calls demanding immediate payment for an allegedly overdue account.

The Scam Mechanism

According to the report, the victim received a call from an individual claiming to represent the utility and demanding prompt payment to avoid service disconnection. The scammer then instructed the member to pay their “overdue” balance by using a specific barcode at a retail location.

Following the call, the member received an email that contained only a screenshot of a barcode, which they were told to use at a designated store terminal to complete the transaction. This method is a hallmark of high-pressure utility scams designed to exploit consumers quickly before they can verify the information.

NGEMC Clarifies Official Policy

NGEMC officials stressed that while customers may use barcodes as a convenient payment option, the utility’s procedures for handling overdue accounts are fundamentally different from those described by the scammers.

“Barcodes are available on the back of official NGEMC bills, giving members the option to pay at some local retailers,” an NGEMC spokesperson stated. “However, we want to be absolutely clear: NGEMC will NEVER send you an unsolicited call demanding immediate payment, especially not in a specific form or forcing you to pay at a third-party retailer using an emailed barcode screenshot.”

The key indicator of fraudulent activity is the high-pressure demand for immediate payment via an unusual or non-standard electronic code.

How to Protect Yourself

NGEMC urges all members to remain vigilant and follow critical security steps to avoid becoming a victim of this or other utility scams:

• NEVER Use Unsolicited Codes: Never use barcodes, QR codes, or any other electronic payment codes sent to you by an unsolicited caller or email demanding payment. These codes often link directly to the scammer’s accounts.
• Hang Up and Verify: If you receive a call from someone demanding payment or threatening disconnection, HANG UP IMMEDIATELY.
• Use Published Numbers: To verify your account status or confirm a billing issue, call NGEMC back using only a published, verified phone number. Do not use any number the caller provides you. NGEMC will not penalize customers who hang up to verify a suspicious call.

If you are contacted by someone demanding payment or if you have any questions regarding your bill, please reach out to the utility directly at a known office number.

The NGEMC office in Trion can be reached at 706-734-7341.