I got a text saying my electricity will be cut off unless I pay now, is it a scam?
Last reviewed: 2026-08-01 · Checked with Hunch’s on-device engine, the same one inside the extension. How Hunch checks →
Part of our guide: How to recognize a bank-impersonation scam →
Very likely. A text threatening to shut off your power within hours unless you pay immediately through a link is a classic utility scam. Real utilities send mailed notices and give you time; they don't demand instant payment by text to a payment site that isn't their own.
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This preys on the universal fear of losing power, especially in extreme weather or for households with medical equipment, where the threat of same-day disconnection short-circuits careful thinking. By posing as the local utility and demanding an immediate payment, the scam converts panic into a fast transfer before the victim thinks to call the real company and check.
Illustrative example of the pattern, not a real message someone received.
How to verify it yourself
- Call your utility using the number on a past paper bill or their official site, not the text.
- Real utilities mail disconnection notices and never demand instant payment by text link.
- Beware demands for gift cards, crypto, or a prepaid app to "stop" a shutoff.
- Check your actual balance by logging in the way you normally do, not through the message.
Common questions
is an electric shutoff text a scam
Almost always. Genuine utilities don't threaten same-day shutoff by text or route you to an outside payment site to fix it.
utility says power will be cut off unless I pay now
Ignore the link and call your utility using the number from a real bill. The urgency and the payment link are the scam's engine.
do power companies demand instant payment by text
No. They mail notices, give you time, and offer payment plans; a demand for immediate payment by text is a hallmark of the scam.
how do I verify a disconnection notice
Log into your account the usual way or call the number printed on a past bill. Never verify through a link or number the message gives you.
If you already responded
- If you paid, contact your bank or card issuer immediately to try to stop or reverse it.
- Call your real utility using the number on a past bill to check your true account status.
- Report the message at reportfraud.ftc.gov.