Protect Yourself and Your Wallet!
Utility scams are a growing concern, affecting thousands of people each year. We have even heard from you that scammers are active and trying to use various tactics to deceive our customers into paying bogus bills or sharing personal information. To help you stay safe, here are some essential tips on how to recognize and avoid utility scams:
- Urgency and Threats: Often scammers will create a sense of urgency, threatening disconnection if you don’t pay immediately. They also offer “incentives” requesting immediate payment in exchange for a discount on your bill or a past due balance. Santee Cooper always provides late notices in the mail before service is at risk of disconnection for non-payment. We also do not demand payments over the phone. If you need to make a payment, use our official website or a verified phone number. Avoid making payments with prepaid cards or gift cards, as these are often requested by scammers. You can view all our approved ways to pay here.
- Spoofed Numbers: Scam callers can use technology to appear as if they are calling from a local number, or even your utilities actual phone number. If you ever feel like you are being scammed, it is best to hang up and call us back directly before taking any action on your account. Don’t use the number they called from but reach us at 800-804-7424 or at the contact information listed on our Santee Cooper webpage.
- Unexpected Visits: Some scammers might show up at your door, claiming to be from Santee Cooper, wanting you to make payments or sign contracts for service. Santee Cooper personnel will always have the Santee Cooper logo displayed on their clothing and will be driving a Santee Cooper vehicle. We also typically do not show up unannounced, without some type of notice.
A great way to stay informed about your Santee Cooper account is by signing up for our online self-service portal, My Energy Link. As a registered user, you can login 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.
Santee Cooper encourages you to always err on the side of caution to protect your personal information. Do not provide personal or financial information to unsolicited callers, visitors, or email links. We pride ourselves on protecting our customers and your personal identifiable information. Help us protect you by recognizing the red flags, staying informed and staying vigilant.
