Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative customers are reporting telephone scams in the co-op service area. The co-op is warning people to be cautious and not fall victim to these scams.

There have been at least two reports this week from the Collinsville area.

Someone claiming to represent SMEC is contacting people by telephone saying they are past due on their electric bills and if they don’t pay immediately with a credit or debit card, their electricity will be cut off.

Scammers may ask for the account number and any security codes or pin numbers to access a credit card or bank account. They may even ask customers to purchase prepaid credit cards for the amount they specify.

In some instances, the caller has consumer account and meter information, which could easily be found in trash or dumpsters. As a precaution, customers are advised to always shred any type of mail with personal information or account numbers visible.

According to Mark Malone, SMEC’s chief financial officer, no one from Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative will ever make a call of this nature.
SMEC customers should always be suspicious of anyone calling to collect money and asking for personal information, Malone said. The co-op does not make telephone calls asking for payment of electric bills or past due accounts, nor does it request personal financial information over the phone.

Anyone who receives this kind of call is asked to gather as much information as possible from the caller and contact SMEC immediately at 256-638-2153, so the scam can be investigated.

SOURCE; The Gadsden Times