SoCal Edison Business Customers Targeted By Phone Scammers

TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — Police are warning residents to beware of callers posing as Southern California Edison employees, asking for immediate payment on past due bills.

Imposters have been calling SCE customers, mostly businesses, and demanding immediate payment on past due bills to avoid having their electric service disconnected, Torrance police officials said.

Police say the fake SCE representatives, who seem to have knowledge about the utility company and the victims, demand payment be made with prepaid cash cards like Money Pak cards or Green Dot cards.

Residents who receive such a call should not send any payments. SCE employees will never demand customers to pay via pre-paid cards or money order, police said, and customers should never reveal credit card numbers or PIN numbers to anyone.

Customers who suspect a fraudulent call should ask for the caller's name, department and business phone number, police said. If the caller refuses, SCE customers should terminate the call and report it immediately to police or SCE at (800) 655-4555.