Identity Theft Leads to Nightmare for Georgia Power Customer

Utility withdraws thousands from woman's account despite her fraud report

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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An Atlanta woman, Grace Brewington, had her identity stolen to open a fraudulent Georgia Power account, resulting in the utility withdrawing $2,200 from her checking account even after she reported the fraud. The identity thief used Brewington's information to open an account at a property miles away from her home, and Georgia Power continued to bill and auto-draft funds from Brewington's account despite her attempts to resolve the issue.

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious consequences of identity theft and the challenges consumers can face when dealing with utility companies to resolve fraudulent activity. It raises questions about Georgia Power's fraud detection and customer service processes, as well as the broader issue of how identity theft victims can protect themselves.

The details

In summer 2025, Brewington started receiving suspicious text messages from Georgia Power about a past-due balance of $1,200 for an address she didn't recognize. She initially thought it was a scam, but the texts were real. Someone had stolen her identity to open a fraudulent account at a property near the Atlanta airport. As the balance reached $2,100, Georgia Power sent Brewington the bill and auto-drafted the full amount, including her regular monthly bill, from her checking account - even after she reported the fraud to the utility's fraud department.

  • In summer 2025, Brewington started receiving the suspicious Georgia Power text messages.
  • As the fraudulent balance reached $2,100, Georgia Power withdrew the full amount, including Brewington's regular monthly bill, from her checking account in late 2025, a few weeks before Christmas.

The players

Grace Brewington

An Atlanta woman whose identity was stolen to open a fraudulent Georgia Power account, resulting in thousands being withdrawn from her checking account.

Georgia Power

The utility company that withdrew funds from Brewington's account despite her reporting the identity theft and fraud.

Tenant

An unnamed tenant who lived at the property where the fraudulent Georgia Power account was opened and failed to pay bills, breaking the lease and disappearing.

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What they’re saying

“I started getting some spammy-looking texts from Georgia Power about an address I had no knowledge of.”

— Grace Brewington (wrdw.com)

“The good thing is that I was in a position where it didn't overdraft my account, and I wasn't responsible for additional fees.”

— Grace Brewington (wrdw.com)

“It appears that your Social Security number was fraudulently or mistakenly used …”

— Georgia Power (wrdw.com)

What’s next

Brewington is continuing to work with Georgia Power and authorities to resolve the identity theft issue and prevent further fraudulent activity.

The takeaway

This case highlights the serious consequences of identity theft and the challenges consumers can face when dealing with utility companies to resolve fraudulent activity. It underscores the importance of vigilance, credit monitoring, and prompt reporting of any suspicious activity to protect oneself from the devastating impacts of identity theft.