Nebraska Public Power District officials are concerned about recent scams targeting utility customers. Mark Becker, spokesman for NPPD, scammers are calling customers, telling them that they have overdue payments that must be paid immediately with a prepaid card, or their power will be shut off within 20 minutes.

Becker says that several communities throughout Nebraska have experienced the calls already, with about a half dozen residents around Norfolk falling victim to the scam. He says utility companies will almost never call customers to tell them about overdue charges.

Becker says anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up and contact their utility company personally and also let law enforcement know about the call. He says under no circumstance should you pay without first contacting your utility provider.