Utility
Is the electric company disconnection call a scam?
Quick answer
Yes, almost certainly. Real utility companies don't call demanding immediate payment in gift cards or prepaid debit cards to avoid disconnection. They send written notices, often multiple, before any service interruption. Any 'pay in 30 minutes or lose power' phone call is a scam.
Red flags to look for
- Phone call claiming immediate disconnection within minutes/hours
- Demands payment via gift cards (Apple, Google Play, prepaid Visa)
- Demands cryptocurrency or wire transfer
- Caller ID shows the real utility company name (spoofed)
- Caller knows partial info about your address (gleaned from public records)
- Refuses to accept payment through normal channels
Real examples
Phone call
This is PG&E billing. Your account is 4 months past due. A technician is on the way to disconnect power in 45 minutes unless you pay $487 immediately. We accept Apple gift cards or prepaid Visa.
Likely Scam
No utility company accepts gift cards. Disconnections require written notice, weeks of warning, and never happen via 45-minute phone deadlines. Real PG&E (and every other utility) does not operate this way.
What to do
- Hang up.
- Don't pay via the caller — even if you're behind on a real bill.
- Call your utility company directly using the number on your actual bill (not from the caller).
- Report to your state attorney general and your utility company's fraud team.
- Tell family members — these scams target small business owners and elderly residents.
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Why scammers use this approach
The threat of losing power triggers panic, especially for small businesses (restaurants lose inventory, retail loses sales) and elderly people (medical equipment dependence). The short deadline overrides verification.
Frequently asked questions
What if I'm actually behind on my utility bill?
Call your utility directly using the number on your bill or their official website. Real disconnection processes give you weeks, sometimes months, of written notice.