YORK COUNTY — Police and law enforcement agencies are warning the public about a new phone scam circulating in the York County area that is targeting electric power customers and demanding immediate payments.

This activity is similar to a scam taking place nationally since 2015, but over the past few weeks, police are reporting a spike in scam electric bill payment calls.

Police in York and Wells say scammers threaten to cut off electrical service for customers unless they make an immediate phone payment while using a prepaid debit card.

According to police, a caller lets a customer know that a disconnect crew will be dispatched to their home and shut off their power unless an immediate payment is received.

As part of the scam, callers suggest that the utility company has not received a recent payment or that their payment may have been processed incorrectly and to avoid disconnection, they need to take immediate action.

If contacted by phone, police advise that customers hang up and not to engage the scammers in conversation. They say customers should report the scam to their utility provider, local law enforcement agencies, and the Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov/) in an effort to assist authorities in eliminating and prosecuting those responsible for the scam.

Police also recommend that customers never share personal or financial information over the telephone without verification. They advise customers that legitimate power and utility companies will never threaten to shut off your power or demand immediate payment over the phone, rather, customers behind in making electric payments will receive a written notice of any issues with their accounts.

They also suggest that residents not give callers or in-person visitors any cash, a prepaid debit card, or any other forms of payment that may be a challenge for law enforcement to trace. Suspicious requests for a customer’s personal information such as bank account numbers, user names and passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers, should be ignored and reported to authorities.