WALKER - Police in Walker are warning residents of a reported scam in the area where a 1-800 number contacts Entergy customers and tells them their balance is past due.

According to a post on the department's Facebook page, the caller informs the resident that the owe between $900 and $1,200 and that their power will be disconnected within 4 hours if the money isn't paid.

The fake representatives then asks the resident their zip code and directs them to the nearest "payment center" where they're instructed to purchase a reloadable payment card in the amount equal to the fake "overdue" balance. The resident is then told to call (800) 449-0860 and dial extension "0" to relay the confirmation number on the payment card to the fake Entergy representative, at which time the "disconnect order" is said to be canceled.

In a post on Facebook, the Walker Police Department cautions:

"These people are very convincing, but don't be fooled. ENTERGY DOES NOT CALL CUSTOMERS WITH THREATS OF IMMEDIATE DISCONNECTION IF PAYMENT IS NOT MADE AT A PAYMENT CENTER THROUGH THE USE OF A "RELOADED" PAYMENT CARD. This is a SCAM! If you receive a call like the one described, don't talk to the caller, don't return their calls if they leave a message for you, and please don't give them any personal financial information or send them any money. The 1-800 number from which they are calling is a computer generated "ghost" number that is likely based overseas. Don't be fooled. Just hang up. If you have received a call like this and were tricked into purchasing a "Reloaded" payment card and calling back with the confirmation number, contact the law enforcement agency for your area."