Nevada Power warns of phone scheme

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 | 9:56 a.m.

Nevada Power issued a customer alert Wednesday after several customers reported a man had called them and threatened to shut their power off unless they paid their bills over the phone with a credit card.

Nevada Power's corporate investigation division is investigating the scam along with Metro Police, but warned customers not to give any information over the phone, spokeswoman Andrea Smith said.

"What is important for customers to remember is that the power company does not call to solicit payment over the phone," Smith said. "If customers have the chance of being disconnected, they will be notified by mail."

Smith did not know how many people were called. Some did give their credit card information out, Smith said, but the deception was caught and corrected through the card company.

If anyone receives a phone call demanding payment, that person should refuse to give any information, call Nevada Power to report the call and check their account, and report the call to the local authorities, Smith said. If someone has already given their card information out, that person should contact their card company.

"It really important for customers to not give information over the phone, and if they have a problem they should probably call us directly," Smith said.