Homer Electric Association issued a warning this week that southcentral Alaska utilities, including HEA, have been getting reports from businesses regarding suspicious phone calls. The phone scam targets customers in Anchorage and on the Kenai Peninsula, HEA spokesperson Joe Gallagher said in a press release.

The fraudulent caller impersonates a utility representative and requests payment for the customer’s supposed past due bill and threatens to disconnect service immediately if the bill is not paid. The scammers intend to get credit card or other financial information. Scammers might even set up caller ID so it appears the call came from Homer Electric Association.

“If a suspicious phone call is received, end the phone call and contact Homer Electric for verification and to check the status of your account. Homer Electric has a protocol for contacting members which includes advanced notification prior to a phone call,” Gallagher said. “Never give anyone your personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account number or credit card number unless you initiated the conversation and you are confident the transaction is legitimate.”

For questions and more information, HEA customers can call 1-800-478-8551.