KRGV.com

AUSTIN - Texas officials have issued a warning about a new identity theft scam.

The Texas Attorney General's Office said the scam claims a new program established by the Obama Administration will provide assistance to pay utility bills.

The scammers are going door to door, using social media, flyers, phone calls and text messages, officials said. Utility customers are asked to provide their Social Security number and bank routing numbers.

Victims who provide their information are given a supposed Federal Reserve bank routing number to pay their utility bills. Customers are led to believe their utility bills will be paid if they use the fictitious routing number and their Social Security number as their bank account.

Texas officials said the program doesn't exist.

State officials said residents should avoid giving Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone who requests it during an unsolicited phone call or in-home visit.

Officials said people should hang up if someone calls claiming to be from a utility company and demands immediate payment or personal information. They said customers should call the utility company immediately and report the incident.

For more information, click here to visit the Texas Attorney General's Office