Scammers Are Targeting Palo Alto Utilities Customers

PALO ALTO, CA — The city of Palo Alto is warning residents about scammers targeting Palo Alto Utilities customers via phone calls asking for money because utilities are going to be disconnected within the hour.

The caller may sound convincing, posing as a city employee and even using the utilities customer service phone number as the caller identification, according to a post on the city’s website earlier this month. They might try to convince residents that their bill is past due and request money via transfer service immediately. They may also provide a 1-800 call back number or a fake employee ID and extension number, according to the city.

Palo Alto Utilities will never demand immediate payment over the phone or threaten to shut services off, according to the city. Residents should be wary of any caller who asks for social security numbers or bank account information over the phone.

No resident has reported falling victim to a scam yet, according to the Palo Alto Weekly. But the utilities company has received angry phone calls from residents who thought they were being scammed because of the caller ID appearing as it if came from the company, Palo Alto Utilities Communications Manager Catherine Elvert told the Weekly.

Click here for more information from the city on scammers and how to detect one.