Hawaiian Electric is reminding customers that the moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment has been extended through May 31, 2021. Calls or other communications threatening immediate disconnection are scams and can be reported to Hawaiian Electric via an online form.

While the volume of scam reports has not spiked, Hawaiian Electric wants to raise awareness of a new trick being used by scammers. In one call, a scammer advised a customer to purchase MoneyPak cards at a local convenience store. The scammer warned against telling the cashier that the card was being purchased to pay a utility bill, advising the customer to instead cite “personal reasons.” Scammers have figured out that store clerks are now trained to intervene if the customer says they’re purchasing cards to pay a utility bill, and employees have helped many potential victims avoid being conned out of their money. So in this most recent case, the scammer warned the customer that a $50 fee would be charged if he told the clerk it would be used to pay a utility bill.

Hawaiian Electric does not accept payments via Cash App, Bitcoin, gift cards or prepaid debit cards.

While the moratorium ends May 31, it won’t trigger immediate disconnections. customers having difficulty paying their bill are urged to submit a payment arrangement request to ensure uninterrupted service.