PG&E warns of recent scams

PG&E News release

With reports of scams targeting utility customers at an all-time high PG&E officials share tips with customers to help recognize the signs of a potential scam.

A typical sign of a scam targeting a utility customer includes a caller claiming to be from PG&E and threatening disconnection if immediate payment is not made via a pre-paid debit card or money transfer service like Zelle, PG&E officials warn. PG&E will never send a single notification to a customer within one hour of a service interruption and 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.

“If you ever receive a call threatening utility disconnection if you do not make immediate payment, hang up the phone and either log into your account on PGE.com or call our customer service number to confirm your account details,” said Matt Foley, lead customer scam investigator for PG&E. “Remember PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email, nor will we request payment via pre-paid debit cards or other payment services like Zelle. End the call, end the scam.”

Based on data collected so far in 2023 scammers are stepping up their efforts to defraud customers. In fact, there have been more than 19,000 scam attempts reported by customers to PG&E and customers have lost nearly $342,000 in the first four months of 2023 alone, PG&E officials report.

During 2022 PG&E received nearly 23,000 reports from customers who were targeted by scammers impersonating the company and customers lost approximately $946,000 in fraudulent payments. Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also aim their scams at small business owners during busy customer service hours.

Another recent emerging scam trend involves scammers targeting real estate agents via their listings and threatening to shut off power if immediate payment is not made. However, with the right information, customers can learn to detect and report these predatory scams.

Signs of a potential scam n See Pg&e scAM, page A8

• Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill.

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The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office logs: May 4

1:42 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 46-year-old woman on suspicion of DUI on Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines. She was released on $15,000 bail.

10:15 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 34-year-old woman suspected of identity theft on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. She was released on $20,000 bail.

10:18 a.m. Battery was reported at a motel on Greenleaf Drive in Placerville.

10:57 a.m. Vehicle burglary was reported on Salmon Falls Road in El Dorado Hills.

12:42 p.m. Forgery was reported on North Canyon Road in Camino.

2:56 p.m. Battery was reported at a healthcare facility on El Dorado Hills Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

5:59 p.m. Battery was reported on Whistling Way in El Dorado Hills.

10:27 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 22-year-old man suspected of robbery on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. He was released on $50,000 bail.

May 5

12:08 a.m. Burglary was reported at a mobile home park on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville.

12:56 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 61-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on White Rose Lane in Placerville. He was later released.

1:17 a.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 54-yearold woman on suspicion of DUI on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines. She was later released.

1:56 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 59-year-old woman suspected of Disorderly conduct and being under the influence of drugs on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville. She was later released.

6:19 a.m. Burglary was retried at 31 Milestone Tract in Pollock Pines.

9:28 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 55-year-old man suspected of a felony probation violation on Wentworth Springs Road in Georgetown. He was listed in custody.

12:11 p.m. Battery was reported on

Park Drive in El Dorado Hills.

3:42 p.m. Deputies cited a suspect who was allegedly drunk on a school campus on Silva Valley Parkway in El Dorado Hills.

4:55 p.m. Battery was reported at a bank on Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines.

5:24 p.m. Deputies arrested a suspect after responding to a trespassing report on Carlson Way in Diamond Springs.

9:54 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers booked into jail a 34-year-old woman on suspicion of DUI on Highway 50 at Canal Street in Placerville. She was later released.

10:55 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 42-year-old man suspected of driving on a suspended license and a probation violation on Which Rock Road in El Dorado Hills. He was released on $5,000 bail.

May 6

1:46 a.m. Battery was reported at an apartment complex on Country Club Drive in Cameron Park.

3:25 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 22-year-old man suspected of DUI on Cameron Park Drive. He was later released.

4:06 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old man suspected of DUI and possession of a controlled substance on Merrychase Drive in Cameron Park. He was listed in custody in lieu of $145,000 bail.

10:09 a.m. Battery was reported on Crystal Springs Road in Camino.

1:13 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 52-year-old man suspected of possession of a controlled substance and illegal drug paraphernalia, driving without a license, illegally carry a switchblade and being a prohibited person possession of ammunition on Highway 50 at Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs. He was listed in custody in lieu of $320,000 bail.

9:40 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 24-year-old man suspected of disorderly conduct on Meadow Croft Lane in Pilot Hill. He was later released.

May 7

12:29 a.m. Deputies assisted with a report of someone drunk in public at the bowling alley on Sanders Drive in Pollock Pines.