Impersonation Scams
Utility Company Scam
Scammers pose as electric, gas, or water companies threatening to shut off your service unless you pay immediately.
Reported Losses
Part of $660 million in business impersonation losses
Primary Targets
Homeowners, small business owners
Last Updated
2026-01-06
Also Known As
Electric Company Scam
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
Scammers create urgency by threatening immediate service disconnection:
**Phone version:** 1. Caller claims to be from your utility company 2. Says your account is past due and service will be cut within the hour 3. Demands immediate payment via gift cards, wire, or crypto 4. May spoof the utility company's phone number
**In-person version:** 1. Someone comes to your door in a uniform 2. Claims they're there to shut off service for nonpayment 3. Offers to take immediate payment to prevent shutoff 4. May actually disconnect service to seem legitimate
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Threat of immediate shutoff (real utilities give advance notice by mail)
- ⚠️Demand for payment via gift cards, wire, or cryptocurrency
- ⚠️Caller won't let you hang up to verify the call
- ⚠️No prior written notice of past-due account
- ⚠️Request to pay a different amount than your normal bill
- ⚠️Caller becomes aggressive when questioned
📝 Real Victim Account
"A man called saying he was from the electric company and my power would be shut off in 45 minutes unless I paid $487 right now. He said to go to CVS and buy gift cards. I was panicking — I have medical equipment that needs power. I bought the cards and gave him the numbers. My power was never at risk."
— Utilities United Against Scams
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Know that utilities give written notice before disconnection
- 2Hang up and call your utility using the number on your bill
- 3Never pay via gift cards — utilities don't accept them
- 4Don't let someone into your home without verification
- 5Ask in-person representatives for ID and call to verify
- 6Set up autopay to avoid legitimate late payments
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Contact your actual utility company
- 2If you paid with gift cards, report to the gift card company
- 3File a police report
- 4Report to your state Public Utility Commission
- 5Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
🔗 Related Scams
📚 Sources & References
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