Jackson EMC has received reports of members receiving phone calls from scammers claiming to be from the cooperative and urging members to pay a bill immediately or face being disconnected from power service. Members should be aware of the rise of this recent scam to avoid becoming a victim. 

“We’ve noticed a recent uptick in members report receiving these types of scam calls,” said Brent Cochran, director of customer service at Jackson EMC. “With summer travel and the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend, scammers may use these times to target potential victims when their guard is down during vacation season. We encourage members to remain aware of potential scams and ask questions if you unexpectedly receive a call telling you to pay an electric bill now.” 

The scammer may pretend to be from Jackson EMC or another utility provider and tells victims to pay their bill immediately, or they will have their power disconnected for non-payment. Be aware that some may even use caller ID to appear as though the call came from Jackson EMC. 

If members are concerned about a past-due bill, they should call Jackson EMC at 1-800-462-3691. Jackson EMC members may also use the MyJacksonEMC website or mobile app to check their current bill balance.  

While the phone calls can be very convincing, there are signs to spot a scam:  

• Urgency: Scammers tell you to act fast – typically while you’re still on the phone with them. Hang up and call the customer service number on your bill or your utility company’s website. Jackson EMC: 1-800-462-3691. 
• Threatening to Disconnect Your Power: Scammers may say that your electricity will be turned off very soon without immediate payment.  
• Personal Information: At some point, scammers may ask for your credit card number, Social Security number or account number. You should only provide this type of information in phone calls you initiate with trusted companies. 
• Requesting Payment with a Prepaid Credit Card: Jackson EMC will never call you and tell you to pay your bill with a prepaid credit card, like Green Dot or MoneyPak. Scammers often target non-English speaking members and ask them to pay with a Green Dot card. For acceptable ways to pay your bill, visit jacksonemc.com/waystopay. 

To learn more about what Jackson EMC does to keep members safe, visit jacksonemc.com/safety-and-security. 

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 242,000 meters on 14,507 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.