PG&E Encourages Customers to "Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam" on Utility Scam Awareness Day
Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) is urging customers to "Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam" for Utility Scam Awareness Day on November 19, 2025. During 2025 PG&E has received over 21,000 scam reports, with customer losses of nearly $300,000 and an average loss of $670. Nearly 700 reports targeted small and medium businesses.
The company warns scammers often threaten immediate disconnection and request payment via pre-paid debit cards or services like Zelle or Venmo; PG&E says it will not request payment by those methods or contact customers within one hour of disconnection. Customers are advised to check My Account at PGE.com, call 800-743-5000 to verify, report scams at 1-833-500-SCAM, and contact local law enforcement if threatened.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) sta esortando i clienti a "Rallenta, Verifica, Fermati lla truffa" per la Giornata di Consapevolezza delle Truffe Energetiche il 19 novembre 2025. Nel 2025 PG&E ha ricevuto oltre 21.000 segnalazioni di truffe, con perdite dei clienti di quasi $300.000 e una perdita media di $670. Quasi 700 segnalazioni hanno interessato piccole e medie imprese.
L'azienda avverte che i truffatori spesso minacciano la disconnessione immediata e richiedono pagamento tramite carte di debito prepagate o servizi come Zelle o Venmo; PG&E dice che non richiederà pagamento con questi metodi né contatterà i clienti entro un'ora dalla disconnessione. I clienti sono invitati a controllare My Account at PGE.com, chiamare 800-743-5000 per verificare, segnalare truffe al 1-833-500-SCAM e contattare le autorità locali se minacciati.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) insta a los clientes a «Reduce la velocidad, Verifica, Detén la estafa» para el Día de Concienciación sobre Estafas de Servicios Públicos el 19 de noviembre de 2025. Durante 2025 PG&E ha recibido más de 21,000 informes de estafas, con pérdidas de los clientes de casi $300,000 y una pérdida media de $670. Casi 700 informes se dirigieron a pequeñas y medianas empresas.
La empresa advierte que los estafadores a menudo amenazan con la desconexión inmediata y solicitan el pago mediante tarjetas de débito prepagadas o servicios como Zelle o Venmo; PG&E afirma que no solicitará pagos por esos métodos ni contactará a los clientes dentro de una hora de la desconexión. Se recomienda a los clientes verificar My Account at PGE.com, llamar al 800-743-5000 para verificar, reportar estafas al 1-833-500-SCAM y contactar a las autoridades locales si hay amenazas.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG)가 고객들에게 «속도를 줄이고, 확인하고, 사기를 멈춰라»를 촉구합니다. 2025년 공익사업 사기 인식의 날은 2025년 11월 19일에 열립니다. 2025년 동안 PG&E는 21,000건이 넘는 사기 신고를 받았고, 고객 손실은 거의 $300,000, 평균 손실은 $670에 이릅니다. 거의 700건의 신고가 중소기업을 대상으로 했습니다.
회사는 사기꾼이 즉시 차단을 위협하고 선불 직불카드나 Zelle, Venmo와 같은 서비스로의 결제를 요구하는 경우가 많다고 경고합니다; PG&E는 이러한 방법으로의 결제를 요청하거나 차단 1시간 이내에 고객과 연락하지 않을 것이라고 말합니다. 고객은 My Account at PGE.com를 확인하고, 확인을 위해 800-743-5000에 전화하고, 사기를 보고하려면 1-833-500-SCAM에 신고하고 위협을 받으면 지역 경찰에 연락하라는 권고를 받습니다.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) invite les clients à « «Ralentir, Vérifier, Arrêter l'arnaque» » pour la Journée de sensibilisation aux arnaques liées aux services publics le 19 novembre 2025. Au cours de 2025, PG&E a reçu plus de 21 000 signalements de fraudes, avec des pertes des clients près de $300 000 et une perte moyenne de $670. Près de 700 signalements visaient les petites et moyennes entreprises.
L'entreprise avertit que les arnaqueurs menacent souvent de déconnexion immédiate et demandent le paiement par cartes de débit prépayées ou des services tels que Zelle ou Venmo; PG&E affirme qu'il ne demandera pas de paiement par ces méthodes ni ne contactera les clients dans l'heure suivant la déconnexion. Il est conseillé aux clients de vérifier My Account at PGE.com, d'appeler le 800-743-5000 pour vérifier, de signaler les arnaques au 1-833-500-SCAM et de contacter les forces de l'ordre locales en cas de menace.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) bittet Kunden, am Tag des Bewusstseins für Versorgungsbetrug am 19. November 2025 zu « Langsam machen, Verifizieren, Betrug stoppen ». Im Jahr 2025 hat PG&E über 21.000 Betrugsberichte erhalten, mit Kundenverlusten von fast $300.000 und einem durchschnittlichen Verlust von $670. Fast 700 Berichte richteten sich gegen kleine und mittlere Unternehmen.
Das Unternehmen warnt, dass Betrüger oft unmittelbare Abschaltungen drohen und Zahlungen per prepaid Debitkarten oder Diensten wie Zelle oder Venmo verlangen; PG&E sagt, dass es keine Zahlung per diese Methoden verlangen oder Kunden innerhalb einer Stunde nach der Abschaltung kontaktieren wird. Kunden wird geraten, My Account at PGE.com zu überprüfen, unter 800-743-5000 anzurufen, Betrugsfälle unter 1-833-500-SCAM zu melden und bei Bedrohungen die örtliche Polizei zu kontaktieren.
تحث شركة Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) العملاء على «التقليل من السرعة، والتحقق، وإيقاف الاحتيال» بمناسبة اليوم التوعوي بجرائم الاحتيال في المرافق يوم 19 نوفمبر 2025. خلال عام 2025 تلقت PG&E أكثر من 21,000 تقرير احتيال، مع خسائر للعملاء تقارب $300,000 ومتوسط خسارة قدره $670. نحو 700 تقرير استهدف الشركات الصغيرة والمتوسطة.
تنوه الشركة إلى أن المحتالين غالباً ما يهددون بفصل الخدمة فوراً ويطلبون الدفع عبر بطاقات الدفع المسبقة أو خدمات مثل Zelle أو Venmo؛ وتقول PG&E إنها لن تطلب الدفع بهذه الطرق أو تتواصل مع العملاء خلال ساعة من الفصل. ينصح العملاء بالتحقق من My Account at PGE.com، والاتصال بـ 800-743-5000 للتحقق، والتبليغ عن الاحتيال على 1-833-500-SCAM، والاتصال بالجهات الأمنية المحلية إذا تم التهديد.
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During 2025, PG&E customers have lost nearly
During a time when many Californians are occupied with preparations for the holiday season, scammers are working to exploit unsuspecting customers with sophisticated tactics aimed at stealing their money. While many are aware of the potential for online shopping scams, the same danger exists for utility bill scams, where scammers will demand payment to prevent immediate disconnection, typically by telephone but also online or in person.
In fact, reports of scams targeting PG&E customers have remained alarmingly high throughout 2025. In fact, there have been over 21,000 reports year-to-date with customer losses of nearly
"Scammers will try to create a false sense of urgency to pressure customers by threatening immediate disconnection of your utility services if immediate payment is not made," said Matt Foley, lead scam investigator for PG&E. "Remember, PG&E will not contact you for the first time within one hour of service disconnection, and we will NEVER request payment by a pre-paid debit card or via online payment services like Zelle or Venmo. If a call doesn't feel right, hang up, and log into your account at PGE.com or call our customer service line to verify your billing details."
Small and medium-sized businesses are also a target, and scammers will focus their efforts during busy business hours, preying on business owners' sense of urgency to keep the doors open and the lights on. In fact, PG&E has received nearly 700 reports of scam attempts targeting these customers during 2025.
"Scammers continue to evolve their tactics, often using urgency and threats to pressure customers into making rash decisions," said UUAS Executive Director Monica Martinez. "The 'Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam' framework is a simple, powerful tool designed to cut through that pressure, giving customers the confidence to pause and confirm any suspicious request before it's too late."
How Customers can "Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam":
- Slow Down: If you receive a call threatening disconnection if immediate payment is not made, hang up and end the call. Remember, PG&E will NEVER call and request any payment information over the phone, and we will never ask you to make payment via a pre-paid debit card, Zelle, Venmo or other money transfer services. Customers with delinquent accounts will be contacted by PG&E with an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail, and included with their regular monthly bill.
- Verify: Log into "My Account" at PGE.com to check your account status or call PG&E customer service at 800-743-5000. NEVER use a phone number provided by the suspected scammer.
- Stop the Scam: Report the incident immediately to PG&E by calling 1-833-500-SCAM or by visiting PGE.com/scams and by calling local law enforcement. Reporting is key, as PG&E works with law enforcement agencies to spot trends in scam attempts and to educate customers on how to spot scams and avoid falling victim.
How customers can protect themselves
- Signing up for an online account at pge.com is an important safeguard. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, they can sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing and helpful alerts.
- Scammers Impersonating Trusted Phone Numbers: Scammers are now able to create authentic-looking 800 numbers which appear on your phone display. If called back, the numbers do not lead back to PG&E. If a customer has doubts about the authenticity of the call, they should hangup and call PG&E at 1-833-500-SCAM. If customers ever feel that they are in physical danger, they should call 911.
- Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or who feel threatened during contact with a scammer, should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission's website is also a good source of information about how to protect personal information.
For more information about scams, visit pge.com/scams or consumer.ftc.org.
About Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS)
Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) is a consortium of more than 150 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities (and their respective trade associations). UUAS is dedicated to combating impostor utility scams by providing a forum for utilities and trade associations to share data and best practices, in addition to working together to implement initiatives to inform and protect customers.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
FAQ
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