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Pacific Gas and Electric is alerting customers around the Bay Area to be aware of a recent telephone scam with callers demanding immediate
payment for alleged past due bills.
The callers warn customers their electricity will be disconnected if a payment is not made immediately via prepaid cash card, such as Green Dot or PayPal, according to PG&E officials.
PG&E representatives never ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card over the phone or in person and victims of this scam should contact their local law enforcements immediately, PG&E officials said.
Additionally, PG&E reminds its customers that their credit department will not ask for personal information over the phone, and should customers have concerns over the legitimacy of a call they are encouraged to contact PG&E at 1(800) 743-5000.
PG&E said it will actively work with law enforcement to help stop any scam that targets customers.
Jade Atkins, Bay City News
By
Jade Atkins, Bay City News
By
Thanks to P.G. & E. for the warning on this particular scam. There is another important situation also going on in the bay area involving a third party. They prey on the disabled, low income tenants, senior citizens within some areas, especially areas with low cost apartments. I know they operate a door to door campaign of getting people to sign up for a monthly flat fee for their utilities, especially Gas. Most of the time the people signing up do not realize that their normal utility bill is much lower than this flat fee at any time. These people are creating all kinds of problems especially for people living on a very modest income, mostly SSI or SDI and they are getting no cooperation from P.G. & E. trying to cancel this after a family member has discovered what they have signed up for. According to one manager of a housing complex in West Oakland some were having their P.G. & E disconnected due to not being able to pay this extra amount added to their bill. One lady was actually hooked up to medical equipment and had her service disconnected, but, after complaining to P.G. & E. she got her service restored. Calls to P.G. & E. are made very difficult with wait times and no return of calls. Contacting “7 On Your Side” was rejected as they do not get involved in utilities. Many managers now ask these door to door people to leave the premises if they are caught. The reason I am writing this is because it is something that is happening in Oakland and could very well start in the Tri-Valley.
Folks have also come to my door asking to see my PGE bill to see how much I already pay. Uh, NO!!