National Consumer Protection Week is first full week in March

Cayce, SC. (March 4, 2024) – In observance of National Consumer Protection Week, Dominion Energy is encouraging customers to stay alert and learn how to spot the warning signs of a utility scam.

"Criminals are working around the clock to steal personal information and money from utility customers across the country,” said Sam Dozier, general manager of customer service at Dominion Energy South Carolina. “We want to make sure our customers can recognize the red flags so they don’t become a scammer’s next victim."

Red flags of a utility scam include:

• Threatening service disconnection if a customer does not make a payment immediately.
   
• Trying to earn a customer’s trust by being personable and sympathetic; not all scammers are aggressive and threatening.
   
• Requesting payment in the form of a credit or debit card by phone, or ask a customer to wire a transfer, send a money order or buy a prepaid or gift card to pay a utility bill.
   
• Targeting small businesses, such as restaurants, and threaten service disconnection during peak business hours to instill fear and a sense of urgency.
   
• Asking for payment in person.

Customers can also follow these tips to protect themselves from utility scams:

• Always be suspicious of and never allow individuals claiming to be Dominion Energy employees to enter their homes without proper identification, an appointment or a reported emergency.
   
• Never provide a caller with identifying information such as your Social Security Number, Dominion Energy Account number, credit, or debit card numbers over the phone.
   
• Always hang up and check your account balance and payment due date by reviewing your dominionenergy.com account, using the company's mobile app, or calling the number located on your energy bill.

For more scam prevention tips, visit dominionenergy.com/scams. 

About Dominion Energy

About 7 million customers in 15 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy every day and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.