La Plata Electric Association cautions members not to be fooled by a scam in which impersonators, who claim to be from the cooperative, are contacting members and threatening to disconnect them for lack of payment.

A news release issued Monday from the LPEA said the scam appears to be targeting cellphones via fraudulent text messages.

“There’s always a new twist, and now they’ve moved from land-line phones to cellphones,” said Ron Meier, LPEA manager of engineering and member services, in the news release “They’ve kicked their efforts up a notch because many people no longer have land lines. Threatening our members with electricity disconnection certainly is unsettling.”

Beyond not making threatening phone calls to immediately disconnect anyone’s electricity for lack of payment, Meier said LPEA never sends threatening text messages, and members should never enter a credit card number in response to any text that comes across their cellphone.

When an account is past due, LPEA customers receive a series of written notices and are given adequate time to settle their bills before any disconnect would take place, according to the news release.

If LPEA members receive a questionable phone call or text message on cellphones that demands immediate payment, they are asked to record a call-back/text number from the presumed scam artist, then call LPEA directly to see if a true issue exists with their accounts.

If a text is blatantly fraudulent, LPEA members are advised to call local law enforcement.

LPEA’s customer service representatives can be reached during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, at 247-5786 for clarification of any billing questions.

LPEA members can also review the status of their account at any time online at www.lpea.coop – click on the SmartHub icon.

LPEA provides electricity to more than 30,000 members in La Plata and Archuleta counties.