Types of Scams

 

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Spoofing

Through caller ID spoofing, scammers falsify the caller ID display and make it appear as though the call is coming from SCE, or they may use a familiar area code. In many cases, the “spoofers” misrepresent themselves as SCE employees or partners.

 

Common Complaints Related to Spoofed Phone Calls

  • Calls demanding immediate payment over the phone.
  • Calls made outside of normal business hours (for example, 2 a.m.).
  • Customers asked to disclose account details such as usage or meter information.
  • Customers asked to provide personal information, including social security numbers, driver’s license or other financial information.
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In-Person Scams

In-person scams happen when someone visits your home or business claiming they represent SCE. 

Stay vigilant and keep the following in mind: 

  • We do not collect bill payments or copies of your bill in person.
  • We do not send solar representatives to your home, nor do we have solar companies contact anyone by phone.
  • Ask for identification. Field representatives and contractors always carry an official SCE badge or an authorized letter. Always verify before letting anyone enter your home or business.
  • If you feel uncomfortable after viewing the badge or letter, please call (link is a phone number)1-800-655-4555 (select option 5).
Urgency scam icon

Urgency Scams

Scammers demand payment and threaten immediate disconnection. They create a sense of urgency to pressure you into making a decision and discourage you from verifying with SCE or others.

Discount scam icon

Discount Scams

Scammers claim you have a past due bill and will give you a discount if you pay them immediately over the phone.

Real estate scam icon

Real Estate Scams

Fraudsters request realtors with sale listings inform their sellers they have a false overdue electricity bill. They provide a fake SCE phone number and urge the customer to pay or face disconnection.

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Fake Edison Website

Fraudsters use fake utility websites that target customers searching how to connect new electrical services or make online payments.

Prepaid card scam

Prepaid Cards

Scammers direct you to pay your bill at a retail store by purchasing a prepaid card. They may also instruct you not to tell the clerk that the payment is for a utility bill, claiming you will be charged an additional fee.

Barcode scam icon

Barcode Scam

Scammers pressure you with the threat of imminent disconnection, claiming you have an unpaid bill. They text you a prepaid store barcode (e.g., Walmart, 7-Eleven, CVS or Walgreens) directing you to pay by cash, debit, Bitcoin or prepaid cards.

Safeguarding your privacy

  • We will never call to demand immediate payment with the threat of service disconnection and we do have a “disconnection department.” We do not take payments over the phone. You can make payments through sce.com/billpay.
  • We do not accept payments through money apps like Zelle or Cash App, prepaid cash cards (e.g., MoneyPak, Green Dot, Visa, Mastercard) or cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
  • We only make calls during our business hours of 7 a.m.-9 p.m., except for customer-requested outage updates.
  • Never give your personal information, including your SCE pin code, to anyone.
  • Use only trusted websites and look for https://sce.com in the URL address to make sure it's the official SCE website.

Tips and Reminders

what to do if you are a victim of a scam

What To Do If You Are a Victim of a Scam

If you think you’ve received a fraudulent call, text, email or in-person visit, you can submit a detailed report using our online fraud form or sending an email to csinfogov@sce.com. You can also report the scam to the Financial Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.govopens in new window.

Your privacy and data

Your Privacy and Data

We’re committed to protecting your private account information.

We use industry standard data protection technology to protect from external threats. We do not sell or provide your information to unaffiliated third parties, except in limited circumstances described in our Privacy Notice. Your bill contains personal information such as your account number, address, energy usage and billed amount. This information, if not protected from unauthorized individuals, could be used by scammers to access your SCE My Account or impersonate you.