#United States #Oakland #Pacific Gas and Electric #FTC #Utility Scams

National Consumer Protection Week: PG&E and FTC's Battle Against Utility Scams

During the year 2024, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers faced significant financial losses due to utility scams, with nearly $650,000 reported stolen by scammers. In response to this disconcerting trend, PG&E is collaborating with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as part of National Consumer Protection Week, which runs from March 2 to March 8, 2025. This initiative aims to educate customers on how to recognize and avoid potential scams.

Utility scams have become increasingly rampant, with PG&E receiving over 26,000 reports from customers targeted by impersonators in 2024. The total financial loss was approximately $646,000, but experts believe that many incidents go unreported, suggesting the problem could be much worse than acknowledged. January 2025 saw a continuation of these attempts, with over 1,700 reports and close to $22,000 lost in a single month.

Ron Rose, the lead customer scam investigator at PG&E, emphasizes the tactics used by scammers. "They frequently create a false sense of urgency, threatening immediate disconnection of utility services unless payment is made right away. It's crucial to remember that PG&E will never request sensitive financial information via phone and won’t ask for payments through prepaid debit cards or money transfer services. If you experience such calls, hang up and verify your account details through the official PG&E website or contact our customer service directly," Rose advises.

Scammers are typically opportunistic, targeting customers when they are most vulnerable, like during service disconnection times. PG&E reminds its users that they will never make unsolicited calls about service disconnection within an hour of a scheduled shutoff. Payment methods are flexible and secure, and customers are urged not to comply with demands for immediate prepaid payments, which are a telltale sign of scams.

Small and medium-sized businesses are also at risk, with scammers often approaching business owners during peak hours, capitalizing on their need to keep their operations running smoothly. In 2024 alone, PG&E reported over 1,200 attempts targeting business customers.

Recognizing Scams

To assist customers in identifying potential scams, PG&E outlines several key warning signs:

Threat to Disconnect: Scammers might aggressively demand immediate payment for overdue bills.
Request for Immediate Payment: Customers may be instructed to buy a prepaid card and call back to supposedly make a bill payment.
* Refund or Rebate Offers: Impersonators often claim overbilling by utility companies, offering refunds or rebates that require sensitive information to access.

Protecting Yourself

Customers should avoid purchasing prepaid cards as a solution for avoiding service disruptions. PG&E provides multiple secure payment options, including online portals, phone payments, automatic drafts, and in-person payments.

If faced with disconnection threats, it is advisable to cease communications—whether by hanging up the phone or deleting emails. PG&E provides notifications about potential disconnections well in advance, typically through the regular monthly billing process.

An established online account at pge.com can provide further safeguards, allowing customers to review their billing history and set up alerts for account activities. Scammers have also been known to spoof genuine phone numbers, making it crucial to verify the authenticity of calls, especially if the caller demands immediate actions or payment.

Fake utility payment websites are another emerging threat. Customers are encouraged to directly access PG&E's official website for any billing needs rather than trusting search engine results that may lead to fraudulent sites.

If customers suspect they have fallen victim to a scam or are in immediate danger during such encounters, they should reach out to local law enforcement right away and report to the FTC for additional support.

For more resources on how to protect against scams, customers can visit pge.com/scams or consumer.ftc.org.

Conclusion

National Consumer Protection Week serves as a vital reminder of the importance of vigilance against utility scams. Through collaboration with the FTC, PG&E is committed to equipping customers with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard their financial information and ensure a secure utility experience. This initiative highlights the necessity for awareness and proactive measures in an increasingly deceptive environment.

For additional information about PG&E and its services, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.