Woman warns of utility bill scam

SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. — The Better Business Bureau and Georgia Power are warning people about a scam, promising that President Barack Obama will pay utility bills with a new federal grant.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas spoke to a Griffin woman who fell for the scam. Loneiyce Washington even introduced her friends to what she thought was a legitimate offer. They ended up getting scammed, too.

Washington said she thought Obama passed a law that provided credits to help her and others pay their utility bills, she told Thomas.

Investigators said the scammers ask for people's Social Security numbers and bank routing numbers. The victims are then given a fake routing number to a bank and the money routed will go toward paying their utility bills. Washington thought after the money had been routed, her bills had been paid. But that wasn't the case and she said she didn't have to give out her private information.

"I didn't think it was a scam because they are not asking for personal information," Washington said.

After falling for the scheme, she called her friends to tell them about it.

"I'm just apologizing about it. I hope they understand it was a mistake," Washington said.

Georgia Power also hopes their customers did not make the same mistake, according to a recording.

Georgia Power warns customers to hang up and call the phone number on their utility bill if they receive a call from someone claiming to be their utility company.

WSBTV