Scammers are using phone numbers from Salt River Project to get people to pay up or else their power will be turned off. It’s a phenomenon called “spoofing.”

The voice on the other end may be a person or automated. SRP Spokesperson Patty Garcia-Likens says the company will never call customers and demand such payments with threats.

“It tends to happen during the holiday weekends or in the summer when we’re busy and we’re distracted with other things and they know that. And especially during the hot summer months, they know that they can hold that over your head, that your power will be cut off.” She said.

She says SRP does not accept payments through prepaid cards, Zelle, CashAPP or Bitcoin.

"SRP will send an electronic or paper notice — email, text or mail to let customers know they are in danger of disconnection. During this call, we do not ask the customer for any money immediately. Instead it’s an automated call that will give customers the option to transfer to a representative or call back," Garcia-Likens said. 

When in doubt, Garica-Likens says to hang up and call SRP directly at 602-236-8888.