SMECO Warns of Fraud Scam

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has been alerted to a fraud scam where customers are being asked to provide credit card or bank account information in order, they are told, to avoid having their electric service disconnected. SMECO warns customer-members not to provide personal, financial, or electric account information to unauthorized callers.

Tom Dennison, government and public affairs director, explained that SMECO has a set routine for collecting payments from customers.  “Bills are issued monthly.  Overdue amounts are identified on a customer’s bill.  If payments are late, SMECO sends a pink termination notice.  We also have an automated calling system to notify customers if their payment is overdue.  If customers receive a phone call and they are unsure about whether or not it is legitimate, they should hang up and call SMECO directly.

“Our contact center is open 24 hours a day, every day.  The phone number is 1-888-440-3311.”

According to Mr. Dennison, customers have recently contacted SMECO to notify the co-op that they have received fraudulent calls from people threatening to disconnect their electric service.