Scam Victims Have Lost an Average of $969 So Far This Year
OAKLAND, California — So far this year, monetary losses from scams affecting Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers are on track to surpass those of 2025, with customers having suffered losses exceeding $211,000 by mid-year. To help customers spot the signs of a scam and avoid falling for it, PG&E is sharing important tips and warning customers about an emerging scam that may be contributing to this increase.
The most common scam continues to involve fraudsters calling PG&E customers and demanding immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. In 2026, that scam has evolved: Now, scammers call customers to threaten service disconnection and then send them a barcode or QR code via text message or email. The customer is then instructed to take the barcode or QR code to a store or business to present it to a cashier and make the payment.
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to defraud customers, and the latest ‘barcode scam’ is a prime example. What hasn’t changed is that they still demand immediate payment of your bill to avoid disconnection. If you receive a call of this nature, hang up. If someone at your door asks to see your utility bill, close the door. Then, call our toll-free number or log in to your PGE.com account to verify your billing information,” said Matt Foley, director of fraud research at PG&E.
“Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone, request payments via barcode, QR code, prepaid debit card, or money transfer services like Zelle, and we will never ask you to show us your bill at your doorstep,” he added.
In Numbers
In 2025, PG&E received nearly 24,000 reports from customers who were targeted by scammers impersonating PG&E, resulting in losses of more than $301,000 in fraudulent payments, with an average loss of $590.
By mid-2026, customers had already reported more than $211,000 in losses due to utility scams, representing a nearly 30% increase in financial losses by year-end, with an average loss of $969.
Unfortunately, this amount is likely just the tip of the iceberg for overall scams, as many go unreported.
Small and medium-sized businesses are also targeted. Scammers concentrate their efforts during peak business hours, taking advantage of business owners’ sense of urgency to keep their doors open and lights on. In 2026, in less than six months, PG&E received nearly 656 reports of attempted scams targeting business customers. That’s on track to easily surpass 2025, which saw 846 reports of scammers targeting businesses.
Signs of a Potential Scam
- Threat of Disconnection: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment of a supposedly overdue bill.
- Asking to See Your Bill: If someone shows up at your home and asks to see your bill, they are not PG&E staff.
- Demanding Immediate Payment via Prepaid Debit Card or Money Transfer Service: Scammers may instruct you to purchase a prepaid debit card and call them later to arrange payment, or request payment via a money transfer service like Zelle.
- Offers of Refunds or Discounts: Scammers may tell you that the utility company overcharged you and owes you a refund or that you are entitled to a discount, and then ask for your banking information.
Customer Self-Protection Measures
Customers should never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or termination. PG&E does not specify how customers should pay their bills and instead offers a variety of bill payment options, including online, telephone, automatic bank drafts, mail, or in person.
If a scammer threatens immediate service disconnection or termination without prior notice, customers should hang up, delete the email, or close the door. Customers with past-due accounts receive advance disconnection notice, usually by mail and included with their regular monthly bill.
If someone knocks on your door claiming to represent PG&E, it is important to know that PG&E personnel always carry identification and are willing to show it upon request. If you still have doubts, you can call 800-743-5000 to confirm whether the person is indeed an official company representative. And remember: if someone asks to see your bill, they do not represent PG&E and you must refuse them entry.
Please note that PG&E will never notify a customer less than one hour before a service interruption, and will never ask a customer to make a payment with a prepaid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or third-party digital payment apps such as Zelle or Venmo.
Signing up for an online account at PGE.com is another form of protection. Customers can not only log in to check their balance and payment history, but they can also sign up for recurring payments and receive e-bills and helpful alerts.
Scammers impersonating trusted phone numbers: Scammers can now create seemingly authentic 800 numbers that will appear on your phone screen. However, these numbers do not connect to PG&E if you return the call, so if you have any doubts, hang up and call PG&E at 1-833-500-SCAM. If customers feel they are in physical danger, they should call 911.
Customers who suspect 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 website is also a good source of information on how to protect your personal information.
For more information about scams, visit pge.com/scams or consumer.ftc.gov.
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices at PGE.com/privacy.
