Is a call threatening to cut off my electricity or gas unless I pay right now a scam?
Very likely yes. Utility disconnection scams impersonate power and gas companies and demand immediate payment to avoid same-day service termination.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Utility impersonation scammers call or send automated messages claiming to be from your electricity, gas, or water provider and warning that your service will be cut off in a matter of hours unless you make an immediate payment. The calls create intense urgency and sometimes spoof the real utility company's phone number on caller ID.
Payment is demanded through unusual methods — prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency kiosks, gift card codes, or money transfer services — none of which real utility companies accept. Real disconnection processes follow a regulatory path with multiple written notices sent over weeks, and payments are accepted through official channels including account portals and regulated payment processors.
Businesses are targeted as frequently as households, with callers arriving during busy trading hours to maximise panic. The amount demanded is typically sized to feel urgent but not implausible given a commercial energy bill.
If you receive such a call, hang up and check your account balance directly on your utility provider's official website or app. If you do owe a balance, call the number on your paper bill to make a payment through official channels.
Common red flags
- Threatens same-day or same-hour disconnection
- Demands payment via prepaid card, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- Caller ID shows the utility company's real name but behaviour is unusual
- Discourages you from calling the utility company to verify
- Amount demanded seems suspiciously large or round
- Agent is aggressive, does not pause for questions, and insists on immediate action
What to do now
- Hang up the call and do not make any payment through the caller's instructions
- Log into your account on your utility provider's official website to check your balance
- Call the number on your paper bill or the provider's official website to verify
- If you already paid via gift cards, call the issuer immediately and report to the utility company's fraud team
- Report the scam call to your national consumer protection or fraud reporting body
- Report to the utility company's fraud team so they can warn other customers
Frequently asked questions
Can real utility companies cut power off with no notice?
No. Regulated utilities are required to give multiple formal written notices before any disconnection. Same-day cutoff without prior written notice is not permitted by regulators in any major market.
What methods do real utility companies accept for payment?
Online account portals, phone payments to an automated system using their official number, direct debit, and in some cases in-person payment at licensed agents. Never cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers to unknown accounts.