Security News > 2021 > February > Texas electric company warns of scammers threatening to cut power
Texas electric utility Austin Energy today warned of unknown individuals impersonating the company and threatening customers over the phone that their power will be cut off unless they pay fictitious overdue bills.
During these ongoing scam attempts, the scammers warn the customers that their utilities will be disconnected if they don't make immediate payments, "Typically using a reloadable prepaid debit card or other non-traceable form of payment."
"The scammers are telling customers they will be disconnected within 30-60 minutes if immediate payment is not made. We are not conducting disconnects, and we haven't been doing so since March 2020.".
The Federal Trade Commission also warned earlier today of scammers taking advantage of ongoing extreme weather events to steal utility company customers' money and personal information.
This warning comes after multiple and spreading power outages across Texas, following a winter storm that led to the collapse of the state's power grid and water systems.
While Texas power plants are now back online, roughly 325,000 households are still affected and in the dark, as Texas governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday.