BATON ROUGE – Entergy is reminding its customers to watch out for a utility bill scam.

According to Entergy officials, the scam occurs when someone calls and says that a customer's electric bill payment is past due and that service will be disconnected if a payment is not made.

Often the scammer directs the customer to transfer funds electronically sometimes through MoneyPak, GreenDot or another third-party card or transfer system.

Below are tips on how customers can protect themselves from becoming a victim of the scam:

- Entergy only uses BillMatrix for online payments

- Never give personal information to strangers. If a call sounds suspicious or you are uncertain about a call, call 1-800-Entergy (1-800-368 3749) to speak with an Entergy customer service representative.

- You can manage your Entergy account and review account alert options to stay better informed by downloading the free Entergy app for mobile phones or by visiting entergy.com to register.

- You should only use authorized methods and legitimate banking information to pay your Entergy bill. There are several ways to do so:

- Pay online: For no additional charge, you may securely log in to myAccount at entergy.com to conveniently pay your bill online.

- Pay by phone: You may pay your bill by credit card, debit card or electronic check by calling Entergy's pay-by-phone provider, BillMatrix, at 1-800-584-1241. BillMatrix charges a $2.95 service fee.

- Walk-in payment centers: Want to pay in person? You may pay your bill by cash, check or money order at an authorized Quick Payment Center in your community, or at one of the two Entergy Customer Care Centers in New Orleans. A convenience fee may apply.

- Bank draft: You can avoid late fees by having your Entergy payment automatically deducted from your checking account each month. Entergy will mail a monthly billing statement to you for your records, showing the bill amount and bank draft date.

- Pay by mail: You can send a check by U.S. Mail to the address shown on your bill.

If you believe you're a victim of this scam, you should notify the proper authorities, such as the local police or the state attorney general's office. If you believe your Entergy account has been affected, call 1-800-ENTERGY (1?800?368?3749) to speak with an Entergy customer service representative.