Phone Scam Targets Local Businesses

Another phone scam is making the rounds in Santa Barbara.

Small businesses appear to be the main target.

Manager Kaitlin Robinson at Pizza Guru on upper State Street got a call last Saturday.

A man claiming to be with Southern California Edison was on the other line demanding a payment.

“He said, ‘we’re coming from Southern California Edison. We’re going to be there in 45 minutes and we are going to shut your power off’,” said Robinson.

She realized it was a scam and hung up.

The owner of 19 Blue Salon and Spa in downtown Santa Barbara got a similar call on Friday night.

She says the man on the other line was very threatening.

She says he also seemed to know the exact amount of her bill.

Frightened her power would be shut off, she ran to purchase a pre-paid card and wired it over.

She called Southern California Edison who informed her it was a scam.

KEYT/KCOY/KKFX called the number that showed up on her phone.

A man named James answered.

He denied calling either business, then offered us a cable package.

“I’m Venus Cable and we dig trenches and we have a beautiful deal now for the next year. Would you be interested in that package for the next year?” he said.

His so-called manager Michael directed us to the company’s website and told us they were based in Minnesota.

We went to the website for Venus Cable. It says the company was founded in Hong Kong in 1992.

After asking more pointed questions, we were put on hold and eventually hung up on.

Southern California Edison released the following information about the scam:
Southern California Edison will never call and demand immediate payment with the threat of service disconnection.
SCE does not accept pre-paid cash cards for payment from customers or collect money out in the field.
Customers are urged to call SCE’s Customer Service Call Center at 800-655-4555 and report a suspicious call, verify information and get answers to collection questions. The center is serviced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also call your local law enforcement agency.
Customers should never use call back numbers provided by caller to verify their billing information. Instead, call legitimate SCE telephone numbers printed on their utility bill or SCE’s website (SCE.com).
Most importantly, never give out personal information over the telephone.