Residents in Northwest Georgia are being warned about a telephone scam involving callers posing as representatives of Georgia Power and threatening to disconnect electricity unless an immediate payment is made.

According to a scam alert being circulated locally, the callers claim that a customer’s electric bill is past due and that service will be disconnected immediately unless payment is made over the telephone.

The scammers attempt to frighten customers into acting quickly, often demanding payment through prepaid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, mobile payment applications or cryptocurrency.

In some cases, scammers use a technique known as caller ID spoofing, which allows them to make an incoming call appear to originate from Georgia Power, even though the call is fraudulent.

Customers are reminded that Georgia Power does not demand immediate payment over the telephone under the threat of same-day disconnection.

Anyone receiving a suspicious call should hang up without providing payment information, bank account numbers, credit card information or other personal details.

Residents should also avoid trusting the name or telephone number displayed on caller ID, since scammers can manipulate that information.

Customers concerned about the status of their electric accounts should contact Georgia Power directly using the customer service number printed on their monthly bill or by visiting the company’s official website at GeorgiaPower.com.

Residents are encouraged to share the warning with friends, neighbors and older family members who may be particularly vulnerable to high-pressure telephone scams.

The warning also serves as a reminder to customers of other electric utilities that legitimate billing questions should always be verified directly with their utility provider rather than through an unexpected telephone call.