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(Memphis) WREG On Your Side Investigators continue to get phone calls from area consumers who are asking if the government is paying their power bill. 

The answer is no!  It’s a scam. 

We first reported the problem more than two months ago when Entergy and MLGW customers began getting hit.

Here’s how it works. 

Crooks ask for a social security number, or sometimes information on the back of the card, and in exchange, they give consumers a phony bank account or routing number to pay their utility bill. 

The thieves claim it’s an offer from the government.

Consumers often don’t find out until after their utility company advises them their bill hasn’t been paid. 

If you’ve been victimized by this scam, contact your utility company immediately. 

You should also check with your bank, credit card companies and notify the credit bureaus to see if any accounts have been opened in your name.