Phone scams increasing locally

Upswing of reports in Mendocino, Lake counties

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company reported this week that the number of scam phone calls threatening to shut off residents’ power are increasing, particularly in North Coast areas that include Mendocino and Lake counties.

“In the past, we’ve seen scammers demanding payment be made using a Green Dot card or Money Pack, but now we’re seeing these criminals requesting payment with a gift card. This should raise a red flag,” said Kevin Cashman, PG&E Security Investigator for the North Bay and North Coast.

Most recent incidents reported to PG&E have happened in Marin, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Humboldt counties.

Another new trend that PG&E reported is that the scam is

becoming more detailed. Scammers include specific names of customers, and in some cases, guessing general dollar amounts owed. They are also disguising their true phone numbers with a caller ID that says “PG&E” or “Pacific Gas & Electric.”

Other scam phone call tactics include: Notifying residents that they are eligible for a federal tax refund related to their utility bill; trying to sell services related to solar evaluation; and claiming to represent a PG&E initiative to sell a product in order to gain access to their home.

To help protect its customers from scams, PG&E advises that it “will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone. Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement.”