Eric Esquivel with La Isla
magazine was the go-to guy when Palmetto Electric learned what was happening to
many of their Spanish-speaking customers.
"It was a call-center
calling Latino customers telling them they were delinquent on a bill and that
if they did not pay within 24 hours they would turn their electric off,"
Esquivel said of a scam that went on about three weeks. "And that they had to go to Walgreens to buy
a green dot card and then call back and give the authorization number," he
said.
Esquivel and Palmetto Electric
teamed up, printing flyers to hang in restaurants and churches, and dedicating
an article to it within the magazine.
Esquivel says in a growing Hispanic community, these type scams are
common.
"There's definitely
people targeting them because of lack of knowledge, education or just the
unwillingness to question the abnormal because maybe a language barrier or for
fear of questioning," Esquivel said.
That fear makes Palmetto
Electric spokesman Jimmy Baker believe not all the cases have been reported-so
he's not sure how many customers have gotten the call or fallen victim to the
scam.
He does know of two customers who fell for it
but hopes this education will help put a stop to it altogether.
Thursday, May 23 2013 3:41 PM EDT2013-05-23 19:41:46 GMT
By Randy Key, WJBF Web Content Producer - Augusta, GA - On Tuesday, Richmond County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a wooded area off of Mickey Court regarding a suspicious situation. Upon arrival,
By Randy Key, WJBF Web Content Producer - Augusta, GA - On Tuesday, Richmond County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a wooded area off of Mickey Court regarding a suspicious situation. Upon arrival,
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:47 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:47:53 GMT
An attempt to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina failed in the South Carolina House Wednesday, even though state law already allows it. Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, tried to amend a bill
An attempt to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina failed in the South Carolina House Wednesday, even though state law already allows it. Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, tried to amend a bill
A Midway man has been found dead on Isle of Wight Road and Lake Rosalind this morning. He was found next to his ATV on the side of the road. Georgia State Patrol is investigating this morning.
A Midway man has been found dead on Isle of Wight Road and Lake Rosalind this morning. He was found next to his ATV on the side of the road. Georgia State Patrol is investigating this morning.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:53:52 GMT
A Columbia woman has been arrested after a 2-year-old boy in her care died last weekend. Police said Thursday that 34-year-old Margie Hamm had been charged with homicide by child abuse. Authorities
A Columbia woman has been arrested after a 2-year-old boy in her care died last weekend. Police said Thursday that 34-year-old Margie Hamm had been charged with homicide by child abuse. Authorities
Tuesday, May 14 2013 11:36 AM EDT2013-05-14 15:36:56 GMT
LaTonya Williams spent her first Mother's Day in tears after finding out that someone was making fun of her precious baby Lola. "She was born with Apert Syndrome which affects her development and she's
Thousands of people are reacting online and in-person after hearing after hearing how baby Lola, who sufferes from a syndrome, was verbally attacked in offensive posts online by strangers.
