Scams involving people pretending to be representatives of LADWP seem to make the rounds pretty regularly, and – unfortunately – they seem to be going around again right now. The utility provided the following information for neighbors recently, and we’re happy to share it. Please keep these tips in mind if you receive a suspicious call or visit.
Our customers regularly inform us of various types of scams in which they receive calls from imposters claiming to be LADWP employees attempting to sell energy or water related products or demanding payment for non-existent water and power bills. Phone scams are a growing problem across the country and we want to alert and warn both our residential and commercial customers of these scams so they can avoid becoming a victim of a crime. The more our customers understand how scammers operate, the better they can protect themselves.
Imposters may pose as utility employees and threaten to shut off your residential or business service unless you make an immediate payment, or try to pressure you into buying products or services, something LADWP would never do. What makes the scheme even that much harder to detect is the ability of scammers, using sophisticated communication technology, to mimic phone numbers, making the number displayed on your caller ID appear to be from a trusted source. In some instances, scammers have even duplicated local utilities’ automated recording to further convince the customer of the call’s legitimacy.
Know that LADWP will NEVER:
- Allow you to provide your credit card to a live LADWP operator to make payment,
- Accept pre-paid cash cards (e.g. Green Dot) as tender for payment
- Call customers threatening to immediately disconnect their water or power service unless the customer makes a prompt payment over the phone
What can you do if you get a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from LADWP?
- NEVER give out any personal information including credit card or banking information to the caller.
- Hang up and dial 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) directly.
Hanging up on any suspicious calls and dialing LADWP directly will ensure you are connected to LADWP’s call center. If you truly have a delinquent bill, an LADWP customer service representative will assist you with establishing a scheduled payment plan. Your options for payment are in-person at a customer service center, via our online billpay service at www.ladwp.com, or via our automated phone payment system, never with live employees taking payment information over the phone.
An imposter may also pose as a utility worker in person to gain entry into your home to commit theft. Always ask to see an employee photo ID before allowing any workers into your home or business. You can also call LADWP to verify the authenticity of a call or visit.
LADWP will continue to work with law enforcement as well as with our peers in the utility industry to expose common methods employed by crooks to prey upon our customers.
To learn more about how to protect yourself from potential scams, go to www.UtilitiesUnited.org.
