Your Electricity Will Be Shut Off!

Protect yourself

Don't pay the caller. Check your account directly with your utility provider.

How it works

A caller claims your power will be disconnected within an hour unless you immediately pay an overdue balance.

These calls spike during heat waves and cold snaps, and often target restaurants and shops at their busiest hour, when a shut-off would be a disaster.

Red flags

A disconnection deadline measured in minutes
Payment by prepaid card, cash app or a "technician" collecting in person
A callback number that differs from the one on your bill

If it already happened

If you already paid or gave access: hang up and call your bank from the number on your card to stop or reverse the payment, change any password you read out, and if you installed software or granted remote control, disconnect the computer and call your IT provider. Report the call at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Where OpenEFA fits

Email filtering can't stop a phone call. The defense here is a habit: hang up, and call back on a number you already trust.

Scam Watch No. 06 · EFA Security · efasecurity.com/scam-watch/ · Print this page and post it where your team will see it.

No. 05: A Family Member Needs Money — NOW! No. 07: The IRS Is Threatening Arrest!

Part of the OpenEFA MailGuard Scam Watch series. Published October 21, 2026 by the EFA Security team. Share it freely; a link back is appreciated.

At a glance

Type: Phone Scam
Channel: Phone Scams (Vishing)
They want: Money, usually by gift card, wire or cash app, or remote access to your computer
One rule: Utilities give written notice. They don't disconnect in an hour.

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All 24 alerts

Phone, email and text message scams, each on one page.

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