Home Local Business PG&E Warns of Multiple Scams

PG&E Warns of Multiple Scams

by ECT

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Antioch residents should be on alert of a door-to-door scam as two young African American males in their twenties wearing bright yellow jackets and badges are going to Antioch homes claiming to be able to lower PG&E bills.

According to an Antioch resident located in the area of E. 16th Street and E Street, two men approached her 11-year-old daughter yesterday as she was coming inside from taking their family dog for a walk. They asked to speak with a parent while following her onto the homes porch area.

“When I stepped out he tried to peer into the house. He said he was with the company that PG&E gets their gas from and asked if I had my bill handy. I told him I wasn’t interested,” explained the resident. “As he was talking to me he kept looking around me to see into my house. I asked them if they had a permit to go door to door. When he said they didn’t need one I turned and went into the house. Locking my doors behind me.”

Then resident then called authorities who are now looking into the incident.

According to Tom Guarino of PG&E, he stated that he is unsure if the two men were from another company or not but noted they are definitely not PG&E employees.

Late Wednesday, PG&E provided an alert which warned of an email and phone scam against their customers.

PG&E WARNS OF SCAM EMAILS, CALLS 

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has learned of an email scam targeting residents across the United States. The utility has received calls from people, both within its service area and outside of it, reporting that they have received suspicious emails that appeared to be bills sent by PG&E. This is similar to email and phone scams that have been happening recently throughout the country involving several utilities.

“It’s unacceptable that someone is trying to take advantage of our customers and others,” said Helen Burt, senior vice president and Chief Customer Officer for PG&E. “We take our customers’ security very seriously and under no circumstances would we email anyone to request that they provide personal information without first logging into My Energy or calling us.”

If a customer receives one of these emails requesting information about their account, they should delete and take the following precautions:

  • DO NOT respond to the request
  • DO NOT click on any links in the email
  • DO NOT open any attachments
  • DO NOT provide any personal information
  • Report these contacts to [email protected]

PG&E is investigating the situation along with the appropriate authorities. There has been no security breach and the information referenced in the email message is not legitimate.

PG&E offers the following tips to help protect customers from potential scams:

  • PG&E’s Credit Department will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone.  Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement.
  • Customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call about a past due bill, service request or request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
  • Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are willing to show it to you.
  • If a person claiming to be a PG&E employee has identification and you still feel uncomfortable, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-743-5000 to verify an appointment and/or PG&E’s presence in the community.  If you feel threatened in any way, notify local law enforcement immediately.
  •  Customers who have an appointment with PG&E will receive an automated call back within 48 hours prior to a scheduled visit, or a personal call from a PG&E gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/ and www.pgecurrents.com.

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11 comments

Julio Jan 9, 2014 - 8:21 am

I mentioned this on another thread on this blog several days ago. In Antioch on the west side near Gentrytown
Dr. we have had this situation. Please watch out.

Martha Viera Parsons Jan 9, 2014 - 8:39 am

They may have been the same two who came to my door on Lake Alhambra dressed with bright yellow jackets. When my large dog, Mia and I came to the door they backed up and told me they could lower my PG&E bill, I too, said I wasn’t interested and closed and locked the door. Sounds like we all need to be on the lookout!

Jinks Jan 9, 2014 - 10:33 am

I hope everyone will be careful about opening the door. . .this gives the opportunity to forcibly overpower the homeowner and gain access to the home. If you don’t have a security door or an intercom, and you’re opening the door, even with a dog, that’s really dangerous.

Bay Area burglars/robbers are not letting the presence of dogs stop them. As an aid in drawing attention to the intruders by making noise, the dogs are still a good idea, but they are not able to stop a determined intruder.

A dog was killed when a Pittsburg family was burglarized on Christmas Eve. Over in Concord, a burglar gained access and injured a dog in the process, and the video of that burglary is still up at Claycord dot com for viewing.

bromancers unite Jan 9, 2014 - 10:38 am

Funny thing was that these guys came by my house off G street. I was cleaning my little deuce deuce on the porch and they asked me if I owned my home and for me to get my bill. As soon as I stood up and they say it (my deuce deuce) they took off like bats outta hell. That struck me as odd, if you aren’t up to any good, why run?

Ree Jan 9, 2014 - 11:01 am

Same thing happened to my hubby and I a couple months back and we live near Savemart on e.18. The guy was asking for us to give him a PGE bill and wanted my husband to sign a paper. I said we were not interested at this time and he kept pushing. I said do you have a brochure or pamphlet of this program? and he said no. He couldn’t give us anything. He took off pretty quick, didn’t even stop at our neighbors.
Also, I have been getting multiple calls from a weird (866) number and it says I qualify for a discount on my PGE bill. I knew it was a scam right off. I will be reporting these numbers.

lynell Jan 10, 2014 - 8:18 am

Im getting the same (866) number with a recording of the pg@e discount. An i dont have pg@e in my name! Little fishy…

Josh Jan 9, 2014 - 11:08 am

Two black guys came to my house about a month ago claiming they could lower my PG&E bill. One was smoking a cigarette while he talked to me. They looked really ghetto so I told them I wasn’t interested.

Ann Jan 9, 2014 - 3:16 pm

They go to bay point too. And oakley. They aren’t very friendly either lol some try to convince you they need to go in your house or backyard. Be careful

Crystal Jan 17, 2014 - 11:09 pm

Same thing happened to me today they wanted to see my PG&E bill claiming they could lower it by 30% that they were from some company called Sparks. I told them wasn’t interested and closed my doors.

Susan Andrade Jan 18, 2014 - 3:47 am

I live in Newman, CA. A woman approached me in front if my house as I was getting out of my car. Staying that she could lower my PG&E rate and asked to see my bill. She made a comment on how nice my house was. Funny by The time she left she was offering me a job and that I could start in 4 days. The company was Vista and wore green shirts and had identity badge around her knock. 3 other women waited in The car at the end of block.

Adrian Mar 25, 2014 - 3:28 pm

Guys came to Napa as well. I caled PG & E to inquire about it after I told them I wasn’t interested, sure enough they told me to be on the look out.

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