Georgia Power offers insights on how to avoid utility fraud

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Today is the seventh annual National Utility Scam Awareness Day and Georgia Power is joining electric, water and natural gas utilities across the country in support of the initiative.

As of November of this year alone, customers have reported more than 3,500 fraud attempts to Georgia Power.

Georgia Power urges customers to exercise caution and beware of anyone claiming to be a Georgia Power representative. They continue to work with law enforcement and other agencies to support their efforts to identify and prosecute criminals impersonating Georgia Power employees to defraud customers.

For more information on common scams and how the company works to protect customers, click here. Customers can also report fraud online.

Georgia power:

  • Not Call to ask a customer over the phone for a credit card or prepaid debit card number.
  • Not Accept cryptocurrency as a payment option. Scammers often request bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, or require the use of money transfer apps for instant payments.
  • Not Call customers to set up automatic payments, “update” credit cards or other sensitive account information, or ask customers to “pay for a new meter.”
  • The company too Not Send on-site staff to take payment in person or pay at a location other than an Authorized Point of Payment (APL).

How to avoid fraud:

  • If a customer receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be Georgia Power, demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection, the customer should hang up and contact the company’s customer service line using the number on their bill (888-660 -5890) call directly. .
  • Because scammers have attempted to encourage the use of fraudulent 800 numbers, customers should always verify that they are calling the correct Georgia Power customer service number at 888-660-5890, which can be verified at www.GeorgiaPower.com/ContactUs. Don’t rely on “caller ID” identifiers.
  • Delete any email that requests immediate payment, personal information, or that is from a company that is not Georgia Power.
  • If an account becomes past due, Georgia Power will contact the customer via a pre-recorded message to the account’s main telephone number or by letter requesting that the customer call 888-660-5890 to discuss the account. Georgia Power’s pre-recorded message does not ask customers to hold the line or press a number to speak to a representative immediately.
  • In the rare event that an employee needs to visit a customer’s home or business for a service-related issue, they will wear a uniform and display an ID card with a photo, their name, and the company’s name and logo. You will also be in a vehicle branded with the company’s logo.

To learn more about how to defend yourself against scammers and avoid falling victim to common mistakes, follow Georgia Power on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.