Protect Yourself From Utility Scams This Thanksgiving

Protect Yourself From Utility Scams This Thanksgiving

Posted on November 26, 2024 by John Brush

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:

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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:

  1. Hang Up or Decline: End the interaction and do not provide any information.
  2. Report the Incident: Notify your utility company and file a report with local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  3. 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.

Author John Brush

John Brush

John Brush joined Santee Cooper in July 2023 after spending the previous 20+ years working in college athletics communications. As an athletic administrator, Brush has helped to promote several athletes to national recognition and has worked with athletes that have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and the Ultimate Fighting Championships. He grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and graduated from Waynesburg University with a degree in communication in 2000.