I got a call yesterday from a number that actually showed in the ID it was 800 # from my power company's name. The supposed rep indicated her name, ID, and supposedly what office she was calling from (an actual local office), and that she was calling because, Miss. _____ (knew my last name), your payment had not been received on your account; it was past due and the electricity was scheduled to be disconnected. I needed to make arrangements to bring the account current. Then, how did I want to make that payment: credit card would be the fastest way, or debit card to bring it up to date to insure there was no disruption of service; or I could send a check to the address she could provide for me. She was ready when I was, just let her know, she would wait if I needed to get it credit card or did I have a pen and paper for take down the address to send a check or money order? I didn't want my service disrupted, right? Yeah right, she would just have to wait.

So, my initial first thoughts though were panic, did I really miss a payment? As she was talking I got online; I found that my payment had cleared for the last several ones and they needed to check their records. As I mentioned this, still not completely convinced as to how legit it was because she was very convincing, she hung up on me. No doubt now.

I called the power company and police. Of course, the power co never calls for past due accounts, they send notices before shutting it off and would never collect payment over the phone by contacting you over the phone. It is scam based out of foreign country that the authorities are aware of, that has shown up the last couple of certain seasons in different parts of the country as there are more past due accounts, and more believable during this time. They started out only targeting businesses but have moved on to residences now.

Do not give out any information over the phone is the bottom line, and never give a credit card or send payment to them to an address given over the phone in particular.