Here’s how to recognize when it’s Palmetto Electric — and when it’s a scam

Palmetto Electric Cooperative has had reports of scammers posing as employees recently. Here’s how to recognize when you’re being scammed.

The scams have come both over the phone and in person, Berl Davis, the company’s president and CEO, said in a news release.

The phone scam demands that the customer pay immediately or their power will be turned off.

“Don’t give out credit card numbers and personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or are sure you know who you’re dealing with,” Davis said. “Co-op employees will always be wearing a Palmetto Electric Cooperative uniform and/or driving a co-op vehicle with our name and official logo on it. They will be glad to show photo identification to anyone who requests it.”

Palmetto Electric does sometimes hire other companies to assist with work, but those third parties have no reason to enter a customer’s home or request any information, according to the release.

Any suspicious calls or visits from people claiming to represent Palmetto Electric should be reported to local law enforcement.

Call the cooperative at 843-208- 5551 with questions or to ask about a suspicious call or visit.

This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Here’s how to recognize when it’s Palmetto Electric — and when it’s a scam."