Watch For Fake Public Utility Notices

Residents in Alameda are reporting fake “Public Utility Notice” flyers that look official but are not from the city’s utility. Alameda Municipal Power warned on April 22 that the notices are part of a scam. (alamedapost.com) The flyer circulating in Alameda cites California Public Utilities Code 379.6 and uses government-style language to appear legitimate. Alameda Municipal Power said the notice did not come from the utility and told customers not to respond to it. (alamedapost.com) Utility impostor scams usually work by creating a shutoff threat and demanding fast action before a customer can check the claim. The Federal Trade Commission says real gas, water, and electric companies do not demand immediate payment through hard-to-trace methods after a surprise contact. (consumer.ftc.gov) Pacific Gas and Electric, which serves much of Northern California outside Alameda’s city utility, gives the same warning to customers who get suspicious contacts. PG&E tells people to hang up and verify their account through the company directly, including through its scam hotline at 1-833-500-SCAM. (pge.com) Alameda Municipal Power says customers should be suspicious of anyone demanding immediate payment on an electric account. The utility says it will never ask for credit card or debit card numbers in a scam-style contact and only makes courtesy calls to accounts already delinquent. (alamedamp.com) The Better Business Bureau says utility impostors often contact people by phone, text, or in person while claiming to represent a local water, gas, or electric company. The pressure tactic is usually the same: pay now or lose service. (bbb.org) The Federal Trade Commission has also warned about newer versions of the same scheme, including fake utility payment barcodes sent by text or email for use at retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart. The agency says those barcodes route money to scammers, not to a real utility account. (consumer.ftc.gov) Utilities United Against Scams, a coalition of more than 150 electric, water, and natural gas utilities and trade groups in the United States and Canada, says impostor scams now reach customers by phone, online, and in person. The group’s guidance matches Alameda’s: use the number on your bill or the utility’s official website, not the number on a suspicious notice. (utilitiesunited.org) For Alameda residents, the immediate step is simple: do not call the number on the flyer, do not share account or payment information, and contact Alameda Municipal Power or your utility through a verified number instead. City officials and consumer agencies say scam notices should also be reported so other households are warned before the next flyer lands. (alamedamp.com)