PG&E warns of potential scams with tax deadline coming May 17 | Scam of the Week

The deadline for filing tax returns, May 17, is fast approaching.

As the deadline draws nearer, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is advising customers to be aware of possible scams involving people posing as PG&E employees.

In an attempt to steal financial information from people, scammers are impersonating utility workers and trying to gain that information in order to file fraudulent tax returns in their names and then collect their refund. Some of the scammers may also contact customers to ask for immediate payment in order avoid service disconnection, PG&E said in a press release.

“We urge customers to be extra vigilant during this time as criminals will use the tax filing deadline to create fear and scam unsuspecting victims, especially when a group of people is vulnerable or in a state of need,” said Marlene Santos, PG&E executive vice president and chief customer officer, in a release. “Remember that PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email, and will never demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill.”

PG&E said the targets of the scams tend to be the most vulnerable people who may also be worried about potential disruption of their gas or electric service. This includes seniors, low-income families, non-English speakers and small business owners.

Signs of a scam include, but are not limited to, a person threatening to disconnect service, a person requesting immediate payment, sometimes in the form of a prepaid card, offers of a refund or rebate, and lastly, “spoofing” authentic-looking 800 numbers.

PG&E shared a list of reminders to help customers remain vigilant in the event they are contacted by someone claiming to be an employee:

• Customers can visit pge.com and register for “Your Account.” Signing in will provide instant access to balance information, payment history and other account details to confirm whether their account is in good standing.
• PG&E will never contact a customer for the first time within one hour of a service disconnection, and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or third-party digital payment mobile applications, including Zelle. Also, PG&E has suspended customer disconnections due to the pandemic through June 30.
• PG&E never solicits personal information, banking information, credit card numbers or gift card numbers over the phone. If a caller asks for this information, or if you give out credit card or checking account information, report the incident to the credit card company, bank or the police, right away.
• If you’re concerned about a call regarding a past due bill, service request or a request for personal information, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
• Always ask to see an ID before allowing anyone who claims to be a PG&E representative inside your home. PG&E employees always carry identification. They are always willing to show it to you.
• Call the PG&E customer service line at 1-800-743-5000 if someone presents a PG&E identification and you still feel uneasy. You can use this number to verify a PG&E-scheduled service appointment or PG&E presence in the area.
• For scheduled PG&E service appointments, you will receive an automated or personal call from a gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit.