Police Warn of Utility Scams

Scammers are again using the ol’ “fake utility bills” trick and San Luis Obispo Police are warning folks to beware lest they get ripped off.
According to SLOPD Sgt. Chad Pfarr, “During the past several weeks the Police Department has seen an increase in the number of fraud reports related to utility company scams. Several victims have reported they received a call from a person representing him or herself as a ‘utility spokesperson.’
“The caller tells the victims that their utility payment is delinquent and ask for immediate payment to avoid having the utility shut off.”
The method of payment being demanded should give people reason to be suspicious. “The scammers ask for payments to be made immediately,” Sgt. Pfarr said, “using Green Dot or Visa-type gift cards. Several of these scams have taken place on holidays when the utility companies would normally be closed.”
Sgt. Pfarr said the SLOPD wanted to remind residents that utility companies never ask customers to use a gift card to make a payment. “Suspects engaged in fraudulent activity do this to avoid being identified and tracked by investigators,” Sgt. Pfarr said.
And utility companies send delinquent customers “past due” notices — usually more than one — in the mail, they don’t call on the phone (a gas, water or electric company probably wouldn’t have your phone number anyway).
“If you believe your account is in good standing and have not received a delinquent notice,” Sgt. Pfarr said, “you should suspect 
the validity of the caller asking for payment. 

As for how to protect yourself, Sgt. Pfarr recommended, “If you do receive a call asking for payment and suspect it to be fraudulent, end the call 
and research how to contact the company on your own. Calling a verified telephone number for your utility company to speak to a representative can quickly determine if your account is in good standing or not.”

If readers have any information about this crime call the San Luis Obispo Police Department at 781-7312 or Crime Stoppers at 549-STOP.