There aren’t too many motivators for action more powerful than fear. Unfortunately, the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam does just that. The scam, which is set up to extract the victim’s personal information, impersonates a disconnection notification from the Southern California Edison billing department. In doing so, it urgently pushes the victim into immediate action, which can put both themself and their families at risk. With that said, there are steps you can take to protect yourself, including downloading a reputable call blocking app.
In this article, we cover:
- The details of the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam
- Why the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam is dangerous
- How to protect yourself from the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam
The details of the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam
The Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam is specifically set up to take users’ personal information. The scam is similar to other power disconnection scams YouMail has picked up via its Robocall Index. The Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam impersonates a disconnection notification from the Southern California Edison billing department. It informs users that their power will be disconnected in the next 45 minutes due to non-payment. It then prompts the user to press a number to speak to a representative.
Actual audio of a utilities scam exploiting the Southern California Edison brand
“This is the notification department with Southern California Edison. You have an automatic interruption of service in the next 30 to 45 minutes due to request a discontinuance of service or delinquent account status. If you find this to be an error or would like to stop the interruption, please press 1 to speak with the billing disconnections department with Southern California Edison to rectify the issue and stop the interruption.”
Why the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam is dangerous
The Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam is dangerous because it poses a legitimate threat to people’s identities. By following the prompts, an innocent person might relinquish private information that could lead to either identity theft, fraud, or loss of money. This can put both yourself and your family at risk.
How to protect yourself from the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam
Protecting yourself from the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam is quick and easy. For one, you’ll want to adhere to a few basic safety protocols. According to the Southern California Edison website, they don’t accept pre-paid cash cards. “If you get a phone call demanding money using a pre-paid cash card, it’s a scam. Hang up and call the police.” It’s also important to not throw your bills away since scammers sometimes go through them and find your account information. Finally, you’ll want to download a reputable call blocking app like YouMail, which blocks robocalls and scammers while offering a personalized call blocking experience.
To protect yourself from the Edison Utilities Disconnect Scam, download YouMail today.
Find about more Robocall Scams at the YouMail Robocall Scam Guide.
