1. PG&E customers reported over $190,000 losses due to scams in 2025. 2. 10,000 scam reports were made, indicating a significant criminal trend. 3. Scammers target vulnerable customers, often using aggressive tactics. 4. PG&E warns customers about common scam indicators and prevention methods. 5. Business customers also face scam attempts, especially during peak hours.
While scam reports are concerning, PG&E is proactively addressing the issue. Similar scenarios in the past have not significantly harmed stock prices.
Customer trust is vital for utilities; reports of scams may affect customer relations, but PG&E's measures could mitigate long-term damage.
The immediate focus is on scam prevention, which may affect public sentiment temporarily. Long-term impacts depend on PG&E's effectiveness in managing the situation.
OAKLAND, Calif., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate during 2025, with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers reporting over $190,000 in losses to scammers. To stop this trend, PG&E is committed to helping customers recognize the signs of a scam and avoid falling victim.
A typical sign of a scam targeting a utility customer includes a caller claiming to be from PG&E and threatening disconnection if immediate payment is not made via a pre-paid debit card, digital payment mobile application, or other methods of money transfer. As a reminder, PG&E will never send a single notification to a customer within one hour of a service interruption and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or instant mobile payment applications, like Zelle® or Venmo.
"Scammers seek to create a sense of panic, threatening disconnection of utility services if immediate payment is not made. If a phone call, visit to your home, or email doesn't feel right, don't fall for it. Hang up, shut the door, and do not respond to the email," said PG&E Cybersecurity Risk Manager Amy Lucido. "Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email, nor will we request payment via pre-paid debit cards or other methods of money transfer, including mobile applications."
So far this year, PG&E has received over 10,000 reports of scams targeting residential and business customers, with customers reporting losses of over $190,000. The average scam victim lost over $900, and over 200 customers have reported falling victim. This number is likely just the tip of the iceberg, however, as many scams go unreported.
Business customers are also not immune from scam attempts. In fact, PG&E has received 250 reports of scams targeting small and medium-sized businesses this year, and these attempts frequently occur during busy business hours when scammers hope to catch unsuspecting victims while they are distracted or stressed.
Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also aim their scams at small business owners during busy customer service hours. However, with the right information, customers can learn to detect and report these predatory scams by visiting www.pge.com/scams or by calling 1-833-500-SCAM.
For more information about scams, visit pge.com/scams or https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams.
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 Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company