Full Notification

MEDIA RELEASE
SCAM ALERT
Southern California Edison Phone Scam
 
SANTA BARBARA, CA – April 25, 2017
Southern California Edison and the Santa Barbara Police Department have recently seen an increase in a telephone scam that targets customers of the utility service provider within the Santa Barbara area.  In this particular fraud, victims receive a telephone call from the scammer informing them that they are past due on their utility bill.  The victim is advised their electricity and services will be shut off or disconnected if they do not pay over the telephone immediately.  The victim will be instructed to go to a store and purchase a prepaid Visa debit card, MoneyPack card or make a Pay Pal money transfer.  Victims are told they must do this within the hour or their utilities will be turned off.  Victims have also been told when they question the caller they will be arrested if they do not pay. 

The Santa Barbara Police Department and Southern California Edison wanted to provide the following information to residents:

Southern California Edison does not demand payment and threaten customers with disconnection of service in this manner.  If a customer service representative did contact an SCE customer there is never a request for an immediate payment via pre-paid debit card or Pay Pal account.  A real Edison customer service representative would also never threaten any criminal action for refusal to make a payment via telephone.  Customers that receive a suspicious phone call should not provide personal information or make a payment over the telephone.  Instead, they should contact SCE’s Call Center at (800) 655-4555 or visit the SCE’s web site at www.sce.com to report suspicious activity and to verify the validity of information.

If you have received any suspicious phone calls like or similar to this please contact Southern California Edison and the Santa Barbara Police Department or your local law enforcement agency to report it. 
 
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Joshua Morton Sgt, Community Services / PIO / Facilities / Fleet City of Santa Barbara, Police Department (805) 897-2332 | [email protected] SantaBarbaraCA.gov