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Nearly 15,000 PG&E customers reported utility scam attempts in the first half of the year, including almost 700 in Santa Clara County and 32 in Mountain View specifically, according to a statement by the utility company this week.
Out of those roughly 15,000 known attempts, more than 500 customers reported losing money to a scam, averaging over $600 each, according to PG&E. In total, over $334,000 was reported lost to utility scams from January through June.
“This number is likely just the tip of the iceberg however, as many scams go unreported,” PG&E said in reference to the roughly 500 victims.
The number of people who reported falling victim to the scams in Santa Clara County and Mountain View, as well as the amount of money lost in these areas, wasn’t immediately available, a PG&E spokesperson told the Voice.
Included in the scam figures are 528 reports of scam attempts reported by small- and medium-sized businesses, PG&E said.
Tips to avoid a PG&E scam
According to the utility company, a typical scam can involve someone claiming to be from PG&E calling and threatening to cut off service if the customer doesn’t immediately make a payment with a prepaid debit card, digital payment app or other money transfer method.
PG&E doesn’t specify how customers should pay bills and won’t ever ask for payments via prepaid debit cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency or mobile apps like Venmo or Zelle. The company also won’t ask for financial information over the phone or email, according to the press release.
PG&E always makes multiple attempts to contact a customer before disconnecting service, and wouldn’t send a single notification on short notice, the PG&E spokesperson told the Voice. Customers with delinquent accounts get an advance disconnection notice, usually by mail and with their normal monthly bill, according to the release.
“Scammers seek to create a sense of panic, threatening disconnection of utility services if immediate payment is not made,” Matt Foley, PG&E’s lead customer scam investigator, said in the press release. “If a phone call, visit to your home or email doesn’t feel right, don’t fall for it. Hang up, shut the door or delete it.”
Scammers have created websites listing fraudulent PG&E phone numbers, which come up when customers search for services related to PG&E, according to the release. Customers should contact PG&E customer service at 800-743-5000 or by logging into their account at www.pge.com.
Scam calls may show an 800 number on your phone that appear to be authentic, but won’t lead to PG&E if called back. Customers with doubts about a call should hang up and either log into their account at pge.com to find billing information, or call PG&E at 833-500-SCAM, according to the press release. If a customer feels in physical danger, they should call 911.
A customer who believes they’ve been the victim of fraud or feels threatened by a scammer should contact local police, according to PG&E.
For more information about scams, visit pge.com/scams or the Federal Trade Commissions’ website at consumer.ftc.gov/scams.
Numbers seem low. I get calls, sometimes multiple times a day, from “Your power company…” Just based on the number of people in the background talking on these calls I’d say at least 20 other attempted scams are happening at the same time.