Crime & Safety
Police Warn of Fake PG&E Callers Scamming Napa Businesses
PG&E offers checklist of how to protect yourself and your business.
Napa Police are warning businesses of a "theft by fraud" scheme involving callers posting as PG&E staff members and soliciting payments from businesses.
At least two Napa business owners have been contacted by unknown subjects representing they work for PG&E and for various reasons, the business owners were told PG&E will be doing an immediate shutdown of services if they do not receive immediate payment.
The call sounds official and they provide a confirming call back number. Payment was requested via Green Dot Money Pak in each of these two cases.
PG&E, when contacted, had no knowledge of these calls. Similar scams have been perpetrated in Napa this year, back in March and August, involving suspects representing themselves as PG&E.
At that time, PG&E offered the following tips to help avoid these scams:
• Customers should always ask to see valid identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are always 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-PGE-5000 to verify an appointment and/or PG&E’s presence in the community.
• Customers who have an appointment with PG&E will receive an autom ated call back within 48 hours prior to a scheduled visit, or they will receive a personal call from a PG&E gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit.
• PG&E’s Credit Department will never 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 they receive about a past due bill, a service request or a request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.
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