Electricity bill scam hits Santa Barbara business owner

A crook wasn’t able to fool a local business owner in Santa Barbara Saturday.

A man called Buena Tool Company on 433 Laguna Saturday demanding money for an unpaid electricity bill.

The caller threatened to send a crew and a truck to the store to shut off electricity if he didn’t receive the money the same day.

A store manager called Tom Good, the president of Buena Tool Company, to let him know about the strange phone call.

Good called the man back. He instructed Good to withdraw cash and buy a money pack at Rite Aid. He assured Good it was the only way for the bill the clear within the same day.

“I called the gentleman back. As I’m talking to him I realizing Southern California Edison doesn’t send its truck out on Saturdays to turn off electricity. This really makes no sense. So I ended up getting off the phone with him and calling Southern California Edison,” said Tom Good, president of Buena Tool Company.

Southern California Edison told Good it would never call and threaten customers if they don’t pay their bills. SCE would only send notices by mail.

Good went to Santa Barbara Police Department and filed a report. While he was there, the man called him asking for the money. Good told the caller he’s with the police and the man hung up.

Good wanted to share his story with the community in hopes no one would fall for a similar scam.