The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has issued a warning about bogus callers.

It has received reports of bogus phone calls being made to  business customers of energy companies - telling them that their account is due for payment and requesting credit card details to prevent disconnection.

The caller claims to represent either a supplier or ESB Networks.

In other cases, the caller says a meter exchange programme is being undertaken, for which the customer must pay, and again requests credit card details.

It says while only business customers have been contacted to date, it is possible domestic customers have or will be contacted.

They also provide a phone number for the customer to call them back on.

But the CER says this number can only be reached by the use of a mobile phone, and therefore it is possible that there is also some sort of scam involving premium rate calls.

The CER says disconnection notices are always in writing, and must provide at least 10 working days' notice for domestic customers and five working days' notice for business customers.

It has alerted energy companies to the apparent scam, and is advising people to be cautious when dealing with such calls.