Scam awareness 

How to spot a scam and protect yourself 

Scammers sometimes pretend to be Middle Tennessee Electric to steal money or personal information from members. These scams often increase during summer and winter, when higher energy use can lead to larger monthly bills and cause threats to feel more believable. A scammer may contact you by phone, email, or in person and claim your account is overdue, demand immediate payment, or threaten to shut off your power right away. Always use cation if someone pressures you to act fast, acts for payment on the spot, or insists you can’t take time to verify the request. 

Members should also watch for suspicious emails and unexpected visits. Scam emails may include misspellings, unusual grammar, the wrong company name, or an email address that is not connected to myMTE or Middle Tennessee Electric. The safest response is always to stop, avoid clicking links or making a payment, and verify the situation through an official MTE channel. Call 877-777-9020, sign in to myMTE, email info@mte.com or visit a local office to confirm whether there is a real issue with your account. 

Common scam tactics 

Scammers often rely on the same pressure tactics across phone calls, emails and in-person visits, including: 

• Pretending to be Middle Tennessee Electric to make the message or visit appear legitimate.  

• Creating urgency by claiming your account is overdue or that your power will be disconnected right away. 

• Demanding immediate payment before giving you time to stop and verify the situation.  

• Pressuring you to respond on the spot instead of giving you time to call our member support team, sign in to myMTE, or contact a local office directly. 

• Using suspicious details such as misspellings, poor grammar, the wrong company name, unusual wording, or an email address not connected to myMTE. 

• Showing up unexpectedly at your property or contacting you out of the blue and asking for payment immediately. 

Payment and disconnection questions 

Does MTE require immediate payment through cash-backed or prepaid debit and credit cards to prevent disconnection? 

No. MTE offers several payment options, including cash, money order, and bank draft. If someone demands immediate payment in a specific form, treat it as a red flag. 

Does MTE disconnect service without advance notice? 

No. Before a member is disconnected for non-payment, MTE makes two automated calls and sends a letter to the billing address on file. MTE does not disconnect service without prior notice, and members must initiate contact for payment to be made. 

Will MTE come to my property and demand payment? 

No. MTE will not come to your property demanding payment, and we never collect payment in the field. Members are always directed to pay through secure, official channels by calling 877-777-9020, using myMTE, or visiting a local office. 

If someone says my power will be shut off today, what should I do? 

Do not make a payment on the spot. End the conversation and call 877-777-9020 to verify your account before taking any action. 

Phone calls and property visits 

What should I do if I get a suspicious phone call? 

Hang up and call 877-777-9020. Even if the call was legitimate, it is always safer to call back using the official number. 

What should I do if someone shows up at my property asking for immediate payment? 

Though MTE employees do visit members’ homes or businesses regarding account matters, we will never collect payment in the field for security purposes. If you are feeling unsafe or pressured, safely get away from the person and call 877-777-9020 to confirm whether the visit is legitimate. If the person is not one of our employees, contact your local police department. 

How can I confirm whether a call or property visit is really from MTE? 

Call 877-777-9020. If there is a real issue with your account, our member support team can help you review it and explain your options. 

Email scams 

How can members spot a scam email? 

One common sign is poor spelling, typos, or unusual grammar. Another warning sign is an incorrect company name, a suspicious email address, or wording that does not match MTE’s standard communications. Scam emails may also include other unusual details, such as references that do not fit the message. 

What should I do if I get a suspicious email? 

Do not click any links. Delete the message right away. If you think the email might be real, call 877-777-9020 or sign in to myMTE to review your account instead of using the links in the message. 

Does MTE send email messages? 

Yes, MTE does email for account-related communication, but members control the types of notifications they receive through their myMTE account. If a message seems unusual, verify it before responding. 

Checking your account 

How can I find out if I have an outstanding balance? 

You can call 877-777-9020, email info@mte.com, log in to myMTE or visit a local office. 

Helpful links 

• Mte.com/Payment-options 
• myMTE
• Contact MTE page