Georgia Power reminds customers to be cautious when asked for personal information

Criminals focusing on pre-paid debit cards in addition to credit cards

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Aug 26, 2013, 10:42 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of recent reports of "scam artists" impersonating Georgia Power employees over the phone, the company wants to remind customers to be cautious and never provide personal information - such as a credit card or social security number - to an unverified person.

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Scam artists have been known to call customers, claim that the customer's account is past due and that their electricity will be disconnected if they do not provide payment immediately. In most cases, the customer is asked to purchase a pre-paid debit card and provide the card's account number. Both residential and commercial customers are being victimized in this scam. Criminals, operating in Georgia and other parts of the Southeast, frequently target senior citizens or those speaking English as a second language.

When a Georgia Power customer is past due on their account, the company will contact them by calling their primary account telephone number with a prerecorded message requesting that they phone Georgia Power to discuss the status of their account. Georgia Power does not ask for personal information like a credit card or social security number over the phone.

Additionally, Georgia Power will never send an employee to a customer's home to collect payment. If an employee needs to visit a customer's home for a service-related issue, they will be in uniform and present a badge with a photo, their name and the company's name and logo. They will also be in a vehicle marked with the company's logo. Information to help customers easily identify Georgia Power employees is available at www.georgiapower.com/uniforms.

Customers who have concerns or questions about a phone call or other contact regarding their Georgia Power account should call the company's 24-hour customer service line at (888) 660-5890. Customers can also visit GeorgiaPower.com to send an email directly to Customer Service or visit a local Georgia Power business office.

Georgia Power continues to work with law enforcement agencies throughout the state to identify and prosecute criminals who pose as Georgia Power employees in order to defraud customers.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

SOURCE Georgia Power