Customers report more than $334,000 in losses during 2024
Corporate news
OAKLAND, Calif. — Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate throughout 2024, with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers reporting more than $334,000 in losses to scammers. To stop this trend, PG&E is committed to helping customers recognize the signs of a scam and avoid becoming a victim.
A typical sign of a scam targeting a utility customer may be a caller claiming to be from PG&E and threatening to disconnect service if immediate payment is not made via a prepaid debit card, digital payment mobile app, or other money transfer methods. As a reminder, PG&E will never send a customer a notification within one hour of a service interruption and will never ask a customer to make a payment using a prepaid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or instant mobile payment apps like Zelle® or Venmo.
“Scammers seek to create a sense of panic, threatening utility disconnection if an immediate payment is not made,” said Matt Foley, PG&E’s lead customer scam investigator. “If a phone call, home visit, or email doesn’t feel right, don’t be fooled. Delete it, close your door, or hang up. Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or email, nor will we request payments via prepaid debit cards or other money transfer methods including mobile apps.
During 2024, PG&E has received nearly 15,000 reports of scams targeting residential and business customers, with customers reporting losses of more than $334,000. The average scam victim lost more than $600, and more than 500 customers have reported falling victim. However, this number is likely just the tip of the iceberg as many scams go unreported.
Business customers are also not immune to scam attempts. In fact, PG&E has received 528 reports of scams targeting small and medium-sized businesses this year. These attempts frequently occur during busy business hours, when scammers hope to catch unsuspecting victims while they are distracted or stressed.
Another recent scam trend involves scammers creating fake websites that provide a fraudulent phone number when you search for PGE-related services, such as “bill payment” or “start/stop” service. These sites and phone numbers often appear when using a handheld device to search for and contact PGE. As a reminder, customers who wish to contact PG&E should call our customer service number 800-743-5000 or log into their account at www.pge.com.
Scammers can be persuasive, and they often target those most vulnerable, such as seniors or low-income individuals. They also try to scam small business owners during peak customer hours. However, with the right information, customers can learn to spot and report these predatory scams by visiting www.pge.com/scams or calling 1-833-500-SCAM.
