Protect Yourself From Scammers

Scammers are relentless when looking for ways to steal personal information, and you should be too when it comes to protecting it.

It's easy to let your guard down, that's why it's important to stay up to date on new and evolving scams. International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 17-23, is a good time to reflect on scammer tactics and steps you can take to thwart them.

"Fraud is a concern that affects everyone, including our customers," said Funmi Williamson, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Southern California Edison. "It's essential to stay vigilant and informed about how to protect your confidential information. Knowing what and who to trust is a key part of that."

This year, SCE has received 1,562 fraud complaints, resulting in $251,000 paid to fraudsters. Although no age group was spared, those ages 50 and under paid twice as much as people over 65.

SCE reminds customers to never share sensitive information unless they are certain of the recipient's legitimacy.

Scammers' schemes continue to change, and this year they set their sights on a new target. Twenty-one churches have contacted SCE to report hustlers requesting over $30,000. Of that, $6,000 was successfully stolen.

As part of the ruse, customers receive a fake past due bill alert requiring quick payment and threatening imminent disconnection. To pay that bill, they direct customers to a retail store and have the business scan a fraudulent barcode that sends money directly to the scammer.

In this scenario, it was churches, but this type of trick can be used against anyone. If something seems suspicious, it probably is. Remember, SCE will never ask for payments over the phone or in person and does not have a Disconnection Department.

While con artists are unwavering in their attempts to cheat people out of money, there does seem to be some good news on the fraudster front. Between 2022 and 2023, SCE has seen a 54% drop in fraudulent complaints and a 33% reduction in amounts paid so far this year compared to 2023. Based on data, SCE attributes the change to customers becoming better prepared to outsmart swindlers.

Things to keep in mind:

• Money apps like Zelle and Cash App, and QR code payments are the leading methods of payment requests from fraudsters.
• Crypto currency, prepaid cards and gift cards are other payment request methods.
• Prepaid cards like MoneyPak, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin or Zelle, are not accepted by SCE. There are five authorized ways to make secure payments, including at sce.com.

Tips to protect yourself:

• Use trusted websites only: Always check for secure connections (https://). When web searching, never click on the "sponsored" website, always use an Edison website.
• Protect personal information: Never share sensitive information like Social Security numbers or bank details unless you are certain of the recipient's legitimacy.
• Stay informed: Regularly update yourself on the latest fraud schemes and how to avoid them. To file a fraud claim, contact SCE using this fraud form.

Learn more on how to avoid scams and protect your account data.