MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Utility companies across the state are warning Tennesseans about a telephone scam.
Officials report scammers are calling to say that a new federal program will pay their power bills. The caller then asks for personal information such as social security and bank account numbers.
Todd Palmer with Middle Tennessee Electric says the scammers often do a little name dropping.
“Often it seems we’ve heard that these scammers describe this program as authorized by President Obama, but we urge our members to guard their personal accounting and banking information and to never share this information with friends or strangers.”
The Better Business Bureau issued a nationwide alert about the scams last week. The Bureau says that in addition to phone calls, the scam is also popping up in social media, text messages and fliers.