Reports of scams targeting PG&E customers have remained at an alarming level throughout 2024. In fact, there have been nearly 15,000 reports since the start of the year, with customer losses of more than $334,000 and an average loss of $628.

“Scammers don’t take time off. Stress and distraction create a window of opportunity for fraudsters to deploy their latest strategies to defraud and exploit consumers,” said Matt Foley, senior scam investigator at PG&E. “Remember, PG&E will not contact you for the first time within an hour of disconnecting service, and we will NEVER request payment via prepaid debit card or online payment services like Zelle or Venmo. “

Small and medium-sized businesses are also a target, and fraudsters will focus their efforts during busy business hours, exploiting business owners’ sense of urgency to keep the doors open and the lights on. In fact, PG&E has received more than 500 reports of scam attempts targeting these customers during 2024.

“We encourage customers of all ages to stop and check any unusual requests from the utility company before making a payment, whether the customer is contacted by phone, internet or in person,” said Monica Martinez, executive director from Utilities United Against Scams. “While fraudsters often target older and vulnerable populations, customers across all age groups are reporting incidents of utility impostor scams that take place online, over the phone and in person.”

Signs of a Potential Scam

• Fraudsters may aggressively demand immediate payment of a suspected overdue invoice.

Immediate payment request:

• Fraudsters may ask the customer to purchase a prepaid card and then supposedly call them back to pay a bill.

Prepaid card request:

• When the customer calls back, the caller asks for the prepaid card number, allowing the scammer instant access to the card’s funds.

• Scammers may claim that your utility company overcharged you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate.

How customers can protect themselves

PG&E will never ask customers to specifically purchase a prepaid card to avoid disconnection or stopping service, a tactic often used in scam attempts. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill, including accepting payments online, by telephone, by automatic bank draft, by mail or in person.

If a scammer threatens to immediately disconnect or stop service without prior notification, customers should hang up, delete the email or close the door and report this incident to PG&E at the following email address. www.pge.com/scams. Customers with delinquent accounts will be contacted by PG&E with advance notice of disconnection, usually by mail, and included in their regular monthly bill.

Create an online account at pge.com is another guarantee. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, but they can also sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing, and helpful alerts.

Scammers impersonating trusted phone numbers: Scammers are now able to create genuine-looking 800 numbers that appear on your phone’s screen. In the event of a recall, the numbers do not refer to PG&E. If a customer has any doubts about the authenticity of the call, they should hang up and call PG&E at 1-833-500-SCAM. If customers ever feel they are in physical danger, they should call 911.

Customers who suspect they have been victims of fraud or who feel threatened

contact with a scammer, you should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission website is also a good source of information on how to protect personal information.