The City of Gastonia is warning its electric utility customers about a scam involving callers who claim power will be shut off unless payment is made immediately.
Following recent winter weather, scammers may use storm-related concerns—such as service disruptions or high energy usage—to pressure customers into making quick payments. In these calls, scammers often claim customers have as little as 30 minutes to pay a supposed past-due bill or their electricity will be disconnected.
Some of these calls may appear to come from a phone number with a local area code, but they are not from the City or its electric utility. Caller ID information can be misleading and should not be relied upon as proof that a call is legitimate.
The City of Gastonia does not demand immediate payment over the phone, threaten shutoff within minutes, or request payment using gift cards, prepaid cards, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps.
If you receive one of these calls:
- Hang up immediately
- Do not provide personal or financial information
- Do not make any payment
- Report the call to the City’s electric utility customer service department
Customers with questions about their account or utility bill should contact the Customer Service directly at 704-866-6714 or visit the City’s website.
The City encourages customers to remain cautious following severe weather events and to share this information with family members, neighbors, and friends, especially those who may be more vulnerable to scams.
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Gastonia, N.C., just minutes west of Charlotte, is one of the area’s best places to live and work with an ideal combination of location, size and livability. Gastonia is the largest of Gaston County’s 13 municipalities and one of the largest cities in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Selected as an All-America City three times, Gastonia’s desirable quality of life is the result of its beautiful natural surroundings, friendly neighborhoods, responsive government and vibrant business environment.