Fraudulent Blackout Texts Target Texans Amid Winter Storm Warnings
Austin, Sunday, 25 January 2026.
Amid freezing temperatures, ERCOT warns of phishing scams claiming imminent outages. Crucially, the grid operator never sends text alerts to individual consumers regarding grid conditions.
Anatomy of the Deception
As Texas grapples with a severe winter weather event this weekend, residents are facing an additional threat: a wave of deceptive text messages impersonating the state’s grid operator. The fraudulent messages, which began circulating ahead of the coldest temperatures, falsely allege that rolling power outages were scheduled to commence on Saturday night [1]. ERCOT officials have been emphatic in their rebuttal, clarifying on Friday afternoon that the agency does not send text messages to individual members of the public regarding grid conditions [2]. This clarification was reiterated in a statement posted to social media on Saturday evening, warning residents to be cautious of entities impersonating the organization during the storm [4].
Verifying Grid Status
To ensure accuracy, business leaders and residents are urged to consult the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) or the official ERCOT website for real-time updates [1][3]. According to official protocols, legitimate updates are also disseminated through verified social media channels, emergency alerts, and the ERCOT mobile app [2]. Contrary to the alarmist narratives propagated by these scams, ERCOT projects that grid conditions will remain normal throughout the winter storm [1]. However, a Weather Watch has been issued effective from Saturday through Tuesday, acknowledging the higher electricity demand anticipated as temperatures drop [1].
Weather Impact and Regional Warnings
The timing of these scams exploits heightened anxiety surrounding the freezing conditions affecting the state. In the Houston area, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Harris County and surrounding regions through Sunday, with an Extreme Cold Warning anticipated to bring the lowest temperatures by Monday morning [2]. Additionally, an Ice Storm Warning was issued for specific areas including Huntsville and Livingston, valid from 6 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday [2]. With hazardous travel conditions and freezing rain complicating the situation on the ground, officials emphasize that misinformation can exacerbate the risks associated with the severe weather, urging Texans to verify the source of any grid-related claims [2].