Just a heads up that scammers are impersonating utility employees in San Diego County right now. 

Officials at San Diego Gas & Electric are warning customers of a recent uptick in scammers impersonating SDG&E representatives via phone or text, demanding immediate payment from unsuspecting customers. The latest scam involves sending ratepayers a fake QR code, instructing them to pay a “past due balance” at convenience stores such as CVS, 7-Eleven or Walmart via the mobile banking service Green Dot. The scammer tells victims not to inform the cashier that they are paying a utility bill. Once the QR code is scanned, it goes into the grifter’s pocket.

SDG&E spokesperson Anthony Wagner said there's been a “significant increase in the QR code scam” in the past several weeks and cautions that older adults and those who may have limited English language proficiency are the most vulnerable.

“It’s incumbent upon all of us to have a conversation with our parents, our moms, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers to tell them about this scam so it doesn’t happen to them,” Wagner said.

This new scam is currently focused on the power industry, but given how scammers operate, it may be just a matter of time before they try it on water customers as well. Out of abundance of caution, Vallecitos is letting our customers know to be prepared.  If someone calls claiming to be from the Vallecitos Water District demanding immediate payment for a bill that is not past due, hang up and contact us at (760) 744-0460. You can also contact your local law enforcement agency to report the incident.

Read the full San Diego Union Tribune article...