City of Morganton residents are again reporting that scammers are calling homes and businesses threatening to disconnect their electric service.

A news release says the scammers demand immediate payment over the phone, claiming to be a technician with the city.

The City of Morganton will never call any utility customer by phone demanding immediate payment.

City of Morganton customers who are behind on a payment will be notified through their utility bill.

Officials say if you receive such a call, do not listen to the scammer’s instructions.

Instead, hang up immediately and contact Morganton’s Electric Department at 438-5277.

And a reminder, do not share any personal information with a scammer and do not return any phone calls.

Two Lincoln County residents are arrested for fraud Wednesday after illegally using someone’s PayPal account to shop on eBay.

According to detectives, the victim’s credit card linked to their PayPal account was used three separate times to purchase eBay items that were then delivered to the suspect’s house.

Detectives say a fourth transaction occurred that transferred cash from the victim’s account to another PayPal account belonging to the suspect’s roommate.

36-year-old Jessica Lynn Propst was charged with four felony counts of identity theft and two misdemeanor counts of financial card fraud.

Propst was issued a 3-thousand-dollar secured bond.

61-year-old George Adamo was charged with misdemeanor accessory after the fact of a felony.

He received a 15-hundred-dollar unsecured bond.

North Carolina fire officials are traveling cross-country to lend a helping hand to California firefighters.

The NC Forest Service has sent more than 20 trained crew members to assist in the battle against raging wildfires there.

Reports say they will be specifically helping with the Ferguson fire, that has already engulfed nearly 63-thousand acres.