Protect Yourself From Utility Scams This Thanksgiving
As families and friends gather this Thanksgiving, scammers often seize the opportunity to prey on unsuspecting individuals. Utility scams are particularly common during the holidays when people are distracted by festivities. Awareness is your first line of defense against these fraudsters.
Common Utility Scams:
Impersonation Calls: Scammers pose as utility representatives, claiming immediate payment is required to avoid service disconnection. They may demand payment via prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
No real utility company will ever ask or demand a consumer to pay with anything other than direct forms of payment like a bank account or credit card.
Fake Door-to-Door Representatives: Scammers may knock on your door, offering discounts or claiming overpayment refunds, asking for personal or financial information.
Santee Cooper will never reach out to someone and ask for personal information.
Phishing Emails or Texts: Be wary of messages that appear to be from your utility provider, especially those asking you to click links or provide sensitive information.
What to Do if You Are Targeted:
Hang Up or Decline: End the interaction and do not provide any information.
Report the Incident: Notify your utility company and file a report with local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Warn Others: Share your experience to help protect friends and family.
A great way to stay informed about your Santee Cooper account is by signing up for our online self-service app and online portal, My Energy Link (MEL) . As a registered user, you can log in 24/7 to view your balance, make secured payments, review your account history, and set up bill notifications. This is a Santee Cooper tool that can help put your mind at ease if you are ever in a situation where you think you are being scammed.
At Santee Cooper, we pride ourselves on protecting our customers and your personal identifiable information. Help us protect you by staying informed and staying vigilant.
For more than 90 years, Santee Cooper has been serving the people of South Carolina. The utility is South Carolina’s largest power provider and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.