With Billing and Payment Scams Continuing to Peak During the Pandemic, PG&E Reminds Customers What They Can Do to Protect Themselves
August 26 2021 - 12:06PM
Business Wire
With utility scams continuing to peak during the current
pandemic, it is more important than ever for customers to be
vigilant and to know what steps to take to prevent themselves or
their families from falling victim.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have become
increasingly deceptive and have increased calls, texts, emails, and
in-person tactics. They are contacting electric and gas customers
asking for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. These
impostors can be convincing and often target those who are most
vulnerable, including senior citizens, those with limited English
proficiency and low-income communities. They also aim their scams
at small business owners during busy customer service hours.
In fact, there have been more than 2,700 attempted scams
reported to PG&E’s customer service line since June 2021 alone,
and the most common scam is a demand of immediate payment via a
pre-paid debit card to avoid shutoff. Cities with the highest rates
of reports are San Francisco (214), Santa Rosa (152), Bakersfield
(133) and Fresno (100). Unfortunately, this number only represents
reported scams, and there are countless other additional attempts
every day seeking to defraud customers.
However, with the right information, customers can learn to
detect and report these predatory scams.
“While scammers will frequently target more vulnerable
populations, we want to remind all of our customers of the
importance of being vigilant, and to provide our customers with the
information and tools they need to avoid being the victim of a
payment scam,” said Matt Foley, PG&E senior corporate security
specialist. “Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the
phone or via email. If you receive a call or email that demands
immediate payment, please call our customer service line or visit
PGE.com to access your account details.”
As a reminder, PG&E will never contact a customer for
the first time within one hour of a service disconnection, and will
never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card,
gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or third-party digital
payment mobile applications. Here are some steps customers can take
to protect themselves and their families against being
victimized:
Register for My Account
- PG&E reminds customers that they can visit PGE.com and
register for My Account. Signing in will provide instant access to
balance information, payment history and other account details and
will provide a first line of defense against scammers.
- If a customer receives a call from someone requesting immediate
payment, they can log in to My Account to confirm whether their
account is in good standing.
- Customers can also call PG&E Customer Service at
800-743-5000 if they think that they are being targeted by a
scam.
Add a Family Member to Your
Account
- As an added layer of protection, customers can designate family
members or another trusted individual to speak on their behalf to
PG&E call center representatives.
- For example, an elderly parent could authorize an adult child
to speak to PG&E on their behalf and make that person their
first call should they receive a call threatening disconnection.
The adult child could then call PG&E to confirm their account
details.
- To designate an individual to speak to PG&E on your behalf,
contact 800-743-5000.
Signs of a potential scam
- Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand
immediate payment for an alleged past due bill. If this occurs,
customers should hang up the phone, delete the email, or shut the
door. Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance
disconnection notification, typically by mail and included with
their regular monthly bill.
- Request for immediate payment or a prepaid card:
Scammers may instruct the customer to purchase a prepaid card then
call them back supposedly to make a bill payment. PG&E reminds
customers that they should never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service
disconnection or shutoff. 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 phone, automatic bank
draft, mail or in person at an authorized PG&E neighborhood
payment center.
- Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your
utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you
are entitled to a rebate. Again, customers should immediately hang
up and call PG&E Customer Service to confirm details.
- “Spoofing” Authentic Numbers: Scammers are now able to
create authentic-looking 800 numbers which appear on your phone
display. The numbers don’t lead back to PG&E if called back,
however, so if you have doubts or have seen any of the above
warning signs of a scam, hang up and call PG&E at
1-800-743-5000. If customers ever feel that they are in physical
danger, they should call 911.
Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or
who feel threatened during contact with one of these scammers,
should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade
Commission’s website is also a good source of information about how
to protect personal information.
For more information about scams, visit www.pge.com and
www.utilitiesunited.org.
About PG&E
PG&E, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a
combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16
million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central
California. For more information, visit pge.com and
pge.com/news.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210826005620/en/
Media Relations: 415-973-5930
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
PG&E (NYSE:PCG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024