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SCE Shares Top-10 Cities for Reporting Utility Bill Phone Scams

During Utility Scam Awareness Week, the utility urges vigilance as the holiday season approaches.
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Don’t Be Fooled by Utility Bill, Meter Scammers

Don’t Be Fooled by Utility Bill, Meter Scammers

Shutting down scammers is Paula’s day job at Southern California Edison, so she does not want to divulge her identity. Each morning, she handles up to 100 customer calls reporting utility bill and meter scammers. ...
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G20-216 Scam Alert Flyer
Don’t Be Fooled by Utility Bill, Meter Scammers

Don’t Be Fooled by Utility Bill, Meter Scammers

Shutting down scammers is Paula’s day job at Southern California Edison, so she does not want to divulge her identity. Each morning, she handles up to 100 customer calls reporting utility bill and meter scammers. ...
View Story
SCE Offers Customers Help During COVID-19 Crisis

SCE Offers Customers Help During COVID-19 Crisis

Southern California Edison customers experiencing financial difficulty because of the COVID-19 crisis can expect to receive a credit on their electric bills a few months early, according to a new California Public Utilities Commission decision. ...
View Story
Beware of Scammers Using COVID-19 to Trick Customers

Beware of Scammers Using COVID-19 to Trick Customers

Southern California Edison reminds customers to stay aware and not fall victim to scammers taking advantage of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak.During the pandemic, con ...
View Story
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    Stories : Safety
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    ESPAÑOL 中文 한국어 TIẾNG VIỆT

    SCE Shares Top-10 Cities for Reporting Utility Bill Phone Scams

    During Utility Scam Awareness Week, the utility urges vigilance as the holiday season approaches.
    Ron Gales
    Ron Gales
    ENERGIZED by Edison Writer
    Contributors
    Infographic: Julia Sanchez
    Published on November 16, 2020
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    Bruce M. of San Bernardino was suspicious about the voicemail message. It said payment was late on his Southern California Edison bill and his service would be disconnected if he did not call back immediately. A 37-year veteran of the LA County Sheriff’s Department, he checked his most recent bill and saw the callback number did not match SCE’s customer service line. He checked his account online and saw that his latest payment was received.

    He called back and was put on hold. “The recorded on hold message was exactly the same as SCE’s,” said Bruce, who did not want to give his full name. He was transferred to different “representatives” who threatened to shut off his power. Finally, “I told them I know SCE doesn’t take payments over the phone. They hung up.”

    Bruce lives in one of the 10 cities in SCE’s service area that most frequently report utility bill phone scams. During
    Utility Scam Awareness Week, Nov. 16-20, SCE is sharing this “top 10’’ to warn customers of the growing threat of such scams. SCE customers report being victimized by utility bill phone scams for nearly $300,000 so far this year.

    SCE reminds customers to be aware of utility bill scams, especially during the holiday season.
    SCE reminds customers to be aware of utility bill scams, especially during the holiday season.

    The upcoming holiday season is typically when the volume of bill scam attempts goes up. At the same time, COVID-19 safety guidelines are keeping more Southern Californians at home during daytime hours, creating more opportunities for phone scammers.

    “Our customers are doing a great job of reporting attempted scams to us, so our company can take steps to help shut down the phone lines these fraudsters use,” says Jill Anderson, senior vice president of Customer Service at SCE.

    She added, “When the COVID-19 crisis erupted, SCE quickly suspended service disconnections for nonpayment and waived late fees by request for residential and small business customers, which will continue until at least April 2021. We also want our customers to know that any threat of immediate service disconnection without payment by someone claiming to be from SCE should be recognized as a scam attempt.”

    The top-10 cities so far this year are: Fontana, Hemet, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Long Beach, Moreno Valley, Ontario, San Bernardino, Santa Ana and Whittier.

    We also want our customers to know that any threat of immediate service disconnection without payment by someone claiming to be from SCE should be recognized as a scam attempt.”

    Jill Anderson, SCE Senior Vice President

    Utility bill scams tend to target the elderly, English learners — or both — and smaller businesses such as hair salons and auto mechanics, many of which have been struggling since the start of the pandemic.

    Valerie C. of Torrance does not fit the profile of a typical target, but she was still victimized recently for nearly $1,300. “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone,” she said, noting that she did not want to give her full name.

    “They said they were from SCE, and they were very sorry but because I missed payments, I’d be disconnected within the hour. They sounded totally legit. They kept me on the phone for an hour, transferring me to different people, and walked me though how to pay using [a mobile payment app],” she said.

    Customers who believe they are being or have been targeted by a utility bill scam should confirm their account balance or payment status by calling SCE’s customer service center at 1-800-655-4555. If possible, save the callback phone numbers or payment instructions. Report the attempt by calling SCE’s customer service center, emailing SCE at
    csinfogov@sce.com or by completing SCE’s online fraud form.

    To avoid becoming a victim of a utility bill scam, customers should know that:

    • SCE does not have a “disconnection department.”
    • SCE will never demand an immediate payment with the threat of disconnection.
    • SCE does not accept prepaid cash cards or bitcoins for bill payments.
    • SCE will never ask for your credit card or account information over the phone.
    • SCE employees will not demand to collect, or accept, payment in the field.
    Tags: utility bill scams
    G20-216 Scam Alert Flyer

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