Statewide ''Scam'' Preying on Georgia Power Customers

Statewide “scam” preying on Georgia Power customers

With the first day of spring behind us and summer-like temperatures already on the rise, so are the number of fraudulent calls reported by customers. Scam artists, posing as Georgia Power employees, are at it again preying on unsuspecting residential and business customers.

Be careful, these criminals are tricky and believable. They are actively contacting Georgia Power customers throughout the state. These imposters call and claim to be from Georgia Power. They tell customers of a past due account that needs to be paid immediately to avoid electric service disconnection. These are NOT employees from Georgia Power! The scam artists then go on ask for credit card information over the phone, or for the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit card (Green Dot/MoneyPak) and provide the card’s account number, to avoid disconnection. They are also now taking it a step further by asking customers to pay at places other than an authorized Georgia Power payment location.

If this happens to you, please do not provide any account number, personal or financial information. We recommend that you call Georgia Power at 1-888-660-5890. Georgia Power asks that you always be cautious when contacted by an unverified person claiming to be a Georgia Power representative. Georgia Power never asks to provide a credit card or pre-paid debit card number over the phone, does not send employees into the field to collect payment in person, and will not ask a customer to pay anywhere other than a business office or Authorized Payment Location.

Here are some helpful tips to avoid falling victim to these imposters:

• If your account becomes past due, Georgia Power will contact you via a prerecorded message to the primary account telephone or by letter requesting that the customer call Georgia Power to discuss the account.
• If a customer receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from Georgia Power and demanding payment to avoid disconnection, you should contact the company’s 24-hour customer service line at 1-888-660-5890. Customers can also contact customer service via email or stop by a local Georgia Power business office.
• If a Georgia Power employee needs to visit a customer's home or business for a service-related issue, they will be in uniform and present a badge with a photo ID with their name and the company's name and logo on it. They will also be in a vehicle marked with the company's logo.

If you ever suspect a visitor to your home or business is impersonating a Georgia Power employee, the company recommends that you call Georgia Power at 1-888-660-5890 to verify the employee's ID and then, if it’s not a Georgia Power employee, immediately call your local police or 911. Please do NOT let the individual inside your home or business, go outside with the individual or provide them with your account number or any personal or financial information.

Georgia Power continues to work with law enforcement agencies throughout the state to identify and prosecute criminals who pose as Georgia Power employees in order to defraud our customers. Additional information about frequent scams and how the company works to protect customers is available at our Protecting Your Information website.