Criminals pretending to be SDG&E employees are calling customers and threatening to turn off gas & electric service if payment is not made by phone.

This information is from the County of San Diego Area Agency on Aging, and originally it came from SDG&E, the San Diego Gas & Electric Company.

SDG&E has received numerous complaints from customers stating that individuals are misrepresenting themselves as utility employee by calling customers and threatening to turn off electric and gas service if an immediate payment is not made. The impersonators are telling customers to purchase a pre-pay credit card, and are directed to another phone number where information is then obtained from the card and the cash value is then removed.

In an effort to help prevent SDG&E customers from becoming fraud victims please note the following tips:
• SDG&E always provides past due notices in writing before service is shut-off for non-payment.
• SDG&E does not solicit credit card information
• Customers should not provide financial information by telephone unless they initiated the conversation

If customers receive a phone call that makes them feel uncomfortable, and they know they have an outstanding balance that needs to be resolved, they should hang up and call SDG&E directly.

If you have received this kind of call and believe you might have been a victim of fraud, please contact SDG&E’s Customer Service line immediately at 1-800-411-7343.

Remember to never let your elderly parents or, for that matter, any other family members provide sensitive financial information over the phone without being certain about the validity of the caller’s intent and instructions.