MASSENA - The Massena Electric Department is warning customers that telephone scammers are trying to gain people’s credit card and bank information by posing as MED bill collectors.

General Manager Andy McMahon said MED has been notified by businesses that “received calls yesterday – last night -- saying that they owed us money and if they didn’t pay immediately they would be cut off. It’s a scam,” he said.

The callers were apparently trying dupe the businesses into giving the callers their credit card and bank information.

MED is sending out a notice to all its customers warning them of the scam.

McMahon said those calls have nothing to do with MED other than that they “are a victim as well as anyone who might have been duped into giving the scammers their credit card number.

“We don’t take credit cards by phone or even in the office. Somebody has a good scam going,” he said.

The notice to customers says that “While Massena Electric does contact customers with past due balances by phone to discuss payment arrangements, these calls occur during regular business hours and we never request or demand payment be made over the phone. If you doubt who is contacting you, hang up and call our office at 315-764-0253.”

The notice says that MED’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.