Be Wary of Impostors Offering COVID-19 Relief
By Denise Luu
Southern California Edison is warning customers of a potential new scam, which involves impostors passing out postcards with unauthorized use of SCE and CPUC logos about a so-called COVID-19 relief program.
The postcard tries to bait customers into setting up an in-person meeting with a “representative” to discuss their eligibility for six months of relief on their SCE bills. At this meeting, the impostor takes down the customer’s information, going through a year of utility statements before asking for a copy of their credit report.
“It’s just unfortunate that these imposters are continuing to take advantage of our customers during these times of uncertainty, especially those who are particularly vulnerable,” said Jill Anderson, SCE’s senior vice president of Customer Service.
“We want to remind customers that SCE implemented several customer protections at the start of the pandemic, including suspending disconnections for residential and small businesses, and providing financial and other assistance programs, to help them manage their bills.”
Scammers are also spoofing SCE's media hotline number (626-302-2255) and threatening customers with disconnection. Customers who receive calls or voicemails from this number should not redial or call any numbers left in the voicemails. Instead, they should dial the number listed on their SCE bill or SCE’s customer service center at 1-800-655-4555.
To learn more about SCE’s current COVID-19 customer protections, customers should visit sce.com/covid19. For those who are suspicious about a potential scam, including any COVID-19-related postcards, emails or calls from people claiming to be with SCE, they should always call the number listed on their SCE bills, SCE’s customer service center at 1-800-655-4555 or visit sce.com/scamalert.
To avoid becoming a victim of a scam, customers should know that:
• SCE does not have a “disconnection department” and has temporarily suspended disconnections due to nonpayment.
• SCE will never ask for your credit card information, account information or credit report in person, through text or email or over the phone.
• SCE employees will not demand to collect, or accept, payment in the field.
• SCE does not accept prepaid cash cards or bitcoins for bill payments.
• SCE is currently not sending representatives out for in-home assessments or inspections.
• SCE does not sell energy-related home improvement products.
• SCE will never ask for electric usage or meter information in person, through text or email or over the phone.
• SCE will not call you outside the hours of 9 a.m.-9 p.m., except to provide customer-requested outage updates.
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