SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
OtherNov 10, 2014
Jewelers warned of utility scam targeting small shops
One California jeweler recently received a call asking her to cough up $1,100 because she, allegedly, was behind on her electricity bill. She knew better than to pay it.
Santa Monica, Calif.--One recent afternoon around 2 p.m., Evelyn Guerboian, who owns Readers Fine Jewelers with her husband Eddie, received a call from a panicked employee.
Southern California Edison called, the employee said, and they are going to shut the lights off by 5 p.m. tonight if the store doesn’t pay its overdue electricity bill.
A business owner for nearly 40 years, Guerboian was almost certain she was up to date on the store’s utilities but returned the call anyway, thinking that perhaps one bill had slipped through the cracks.
She said when she called back the number left by alleged utility company employee, she was told her store owed $1,100. That is when she knew it was a scam. She might have missed one payment, but Guerboian was certain she wasn’t that far behind on the store’s bills.
The Santa Monica jeweler is one of thousands of small business owners in southern California currently being targeted by scam artists who call pretending to be the utility company and demanding immediate payment via the purchase of prepaid debit cards.
Now, Southern California Edison, or SCE, is asking Guerboian to help spread the word to jewelers nationwide, as the culprits are likely to try their scam in other states. Bank of the West recently posted a blog giving business owners four tips for avoiding these types of scams, stating that “similar scams have been noted around the country.”
According to an alert distributed by the SCE, the scam artists have targeted more than 8,000 of its customers since December 2012 and cheated them out of more than $250,000. About 90 percent of their targets are small businesses--markets, hair salons, car washes, family-owned jewelry stores, etc.--and the vast majority of those are owned by Hispanic, Asian and Middle Easterners for whom English might be a second language.
Lately, those perpetrating the scams have been “double-“ and even “triple-dipping.” They are calling back those sucked into the scam and telling them the payment didn’t go through and to resend the money a second, or even a third, time.
The utility company said that while it is working closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies, the scam is difficult to stop because the majority of the calls come from outside the United States.
In the meantime, they offer the following tips for small business owners, including jewelers, in southern California.
--Pay
attention to the number. The scam artists often use “off” phone numbers such as 888 or other combinations. Anytime the SCE contacts customers, the call will come from an 800 number. Also, the scammers will give an extension number when leaving their callback digits; SCE does not use extension numbers.
--Listen to the content of the call. SCE said it does not threaten customers with service shut-off for two weeks. The company would not, as the caller did in the Readers Jewelers case, call at 2 p.m. to say the electricity would be shut off in three hours. Also, SCE does not accept Green Dot or Vanilla reloadable debit cards.
--Note the timing of the call. SCE said it does not call its customers on weekends or holidays.
--Don’t give out any vital information over the phone. “These imposters are great fishers of information,” said Arthur Chico, who works for SCE Corporate Security. “You never know who they are, and imposters will use that information against you.”
At Readers, Guerboian, who has owned the shop with her husband for 38 years, said after getting off the phone with the scammers, she immediately checked her bill online, which confirmed her suspicion that it was a trick. Her account was current.
Other business owners have not been as wise, though. The jeweler said she knows of a nearby coffee shop and bakery that were taken in by the call.
Guerboian said she told SCE she had received one of these calls and now is spreading the word to other jewelers through industry organizations such as Jewelers of America.
In southern California, business owners who receive a suspicious call should contact the SCE’s call center at 800-655-4555. It is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
More on Other
The Latest
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
Weekly QuizSep 04, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
SourcingSep 04, 2025
Lucara Unveils Unusual 37-Carat Pink DiamondThe Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.
WatchesSep 04, 2025
Breitling Takes Its NFL Game to the Next Level Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2025
The NYC Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show Returns in NovemberNYCJAOS is set for Nov. 21-23 in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
SourcingSep 03, 2025
Gemfields Confirms Completion of Fabergé SaleU.S.-based investment company SMG Capital LLC is the new owner of the luxury brand.
MajorsSep 03, 2025
These Are the Nearly 300 Claire’s Stores Set to CloseA new court filing details the locations of the stores that will close, as well as the 830 that will remain open.
MajorsSep 03, 2025
Stuller Releases 2 New Catalogs The new catalogs are “Tools, Equipment, & Metals” and “Findings & Metals.”
TrendsSep 03, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: A Perfect BirthstoneSapphire’s variety of colors make it the perfect birthstone for September.
FinancialsSep 02, 2025
Lab-Grown Diamonds, Lower-Priced Fashion Jewelry Drive Signet Jewelers’ Q2 SalesThe retailer has raised its guidance after seeing total sales increase 3 percent in the second quarter, beating expectations.
MajorsSep 02, 2025
Birks CEO Jean-Christophe Bédos Steps DownNiccolò Rossi di Montelera, executive chairman of the board, was appointed as interim CEO.
MajorsSep 02, 2025
Harry Winston Opens Its Largest Flagship in JapanThe three-floor space also features the jeweler’s largest VIP salon in Japan and offers an exclusive diamond pendant.
CollectionsSep 02, 2025
Stephanie Gottlieb Debuts Silver Designs in ‘All Hours’ CollabThe collection is a collaboration between Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry and Oak and Luna, focusing on understated essentials.
AuctionsAug 29, 2025
Sotheby’s UAE Sale to Feature 32-Carat Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink DiamondThe highlight of a single-owner jewelry and watch collection, it’s estimated to fetch up to $7 million at auction this December.
