Every day, millions of Americans are targeted by scammers through phone calls, emails, text messages, online or in person. Scammers’ tactics can change daily, which is why it’s important for consumers to stay on top of the latest scam reports from local and national news outlets, as well as your local utility companies.

San Bernard Electric Cooperative wants you to be aware of two trending scam tactics. One is the overpayment trick, where a scammer contacts you and claims that you have overpaid your utility bill. The scammer will say they need your personal banking information to deposit the credit back to your checking account. Don’t fall for this scam! If you make an overpayment on your energy bill, SBEC will automatically apply the credit to your account, which will carry over to your next billing cycle. Another one is threatening to disconnect power if payment is not made over the phone. Just a few reminders for our members that SBEC does not take credit card payments over the phone, nor do we disconnect after normal business hours (8am-5pm) or on weekends. If you have any questions about your account, gather as much information from the phone call you can and then call San Bernard Electric Company immediately to check your account or log into your account via SmartHub to check your balance.

Here are a few reminders on how to take control of the situation when you’ve been targeted by a scammer:

• Take your time. Utility scammers try to create a sense of urgency so that you’ll act fast and hand over personal information, especially over the phone. Take a moment to think about the situation before acting.
• Be suspicious. Scammers typically request immediate payments through prepaid debit cards or third-party apps. Unusual requests like this should raise red flags. Remember, if the request seems strange and out of the ordinary, you’re likely being targeted by a scammer.
• Confirm before you act. If you’re contacted by someone claiming to represent SBEC or another utility but you’re unsure, just hang up the phone and call the utility directly. You can reach us at  1-800-364-3171 to verify the situation.

Our increasingly connected world provides scammers with more opportunities to connect with unsuspecting consumers. Be vigilant, and please report any utility scams to us so we can let others in our community know. Together, we can help prevent our friends and neighbors from being victimized.