Mississippi Power issued a scam alert last week in which customers had received calls threatening service disconnection and demanding financial information.

The company said if a customer receives a call from an individual representing Mississippi Power demanding immediate payment or face service disconnection, to please contact Missis-sippi Power immediately to verify the status of the account.

Mississippi Power services customers in the Bassfield area.

According to the Mississippi Power website, Mississippi Power will never send an employee to a home or business to collect payment. Employees will never call or visit customers and re-quest personal or financial information. If an employee has a service-related reason to visit, they will always wear a Mississippi Power uniform or apparel with logo, arrive in a Mississippi Power vehicle with the logo and present a photo I.D. with the Mississippi Power logo.

If you have reason for concern or suspect a problem, please call Mississippi Power to verify I.D.

Criminals have been known to call or visit customers, claim that the customer’s account is past due and that their electricity will be disconnected if they do not provide payment immediately. Often, the customer is asked to purchase a pre-paid debit card and provide the account number on the card. With access to the account number, the criminals use the money on the pre-paid card for their own benefit. Both residential and commercial customers have been victimized by this unethical tactic. Criminals operating in Mississippi and other parts of the Southeast, have frequently targeted senior citizens or those speaking English as a second language.

Mississippi Power does not call or visit customers to ask for personal or financial information like a credit card, debit card, banking information or social security number over the phone.

If you suspect that someone is coming to your home or place of business impersonating a Mis-sissippi Power employee, call the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department immediately, then call Mississippi Power at 800-532-1502. The company warns do not let the individual in-side your home or business, do not go outside with the individual and do not provide them with your account number or any personal or financial information.

For more information on scams, visit www.mississippipower.com/scams.