Next time you get a call or visit from ‘PG&E,’ make sure it’s not a scam

It’s a scam.

That’s what Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wants Fresno residents to know the next time they are asked over the phone to pay a bill using a prepaid cash card.

Customers have reported receiving calls from people pretending to be service representatives and demanding payment for a past due bill, the utility stated. Scammers even warn that their power could be cut if they don’t pay.

PG&E says its representatives never ask for payment with a prepaid cash card over the phone, or in person.

Customers in Fresno’s Tower District also reported people posing as PG&E workers showing up at their doors. The “representatives” even asked to see utility bills to check for overcharges – another thing the utility says it never does.

People can call 800-743-5000 to confirm if their bill is past due, PG&E said, or to verify if someone is an authorized worker. If a customer feels threatened, they should call police.

Anyone involved with what they think is a scam should report it to PG&E, their bank and law enforcement.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Next time you get a call or visit from ‘PG&E,’ make sure it’s not a scam."