California PG&E prospects warned about utility rip-off spike in 2026

PG&E is warning prospects a couple of surge in scams after fraudsters stole greater than $211,000 from prospects within the first half of the yr utilizing faux QR codes and threats to disconnect service.

The utility large mentioned prospects are on tempo to lose roughly 30% more cash to scammers in 2026 than they did final yr as criminals develop into more and more subtle in impersonating workers.

The scammers sometimes contact prospects by cellphone, textual content message or electronic mail, falsely claiming their utility invoice is overdue and threatening to close off electrical energy or gasoline service except instant fee is made.

Through the name, victims are despatched a fraudulent QR code and instructed to scan it and make a fee at a neighborhood cashier or retail retailer. The cash is then transferred on to the scammers as an alternative of PG&E.

The utility issued the warning on Sunday after seeing a pointy improve in monetary losses amongst its prospects, in keeping with KSBY Information.

Up to now this yr, scammers have stolen greater than $211,000 from PG&E prospects.

The common sufferer has misplaced about $969, a big leap from the typical lack of $590 reported in 2025.

Whereas the rip-off has been reported all through PG&E’s service territory, officers mentioned there have been a minimum of 9 reported instances in Santa Barbara County and three in San Luis Obispo County to this point this yr.

Scammers prey on worry and urgency, in keeping with Matt Foley, PG&E’s lead rip-off investigator.

He urged prospects to right away dangle up on anybody demanding prompt fee below the specter of service disconnection.

As a substitute, Foley suggested prospects to independently confirm their account by logging into the official PG&E web site or contacting the utility instantly by way of its customer support quantity.

PG&E burdened that prospects also needs to be cautious of anybody requesting fee by way of pay as you go debit playing cards, cryptocurrency, digital fee apps or different uncommon fee strategies.

The utility firm additionally warned customers to be suspicious of individuals displaying up at their entrance door asking to examine a utility invoice or claiming prospects are owed surprising rebates or refunds.

The most recent warning comes as many Californians are already below monetary pressure from rising utility prices.

Final week, a watchdog with the California Public Utilities Fee projected PG&E prospects might see annual gasoline and electrical energy payments rise by as a lot as $840 by 2030.

The Public Advocates Workplace estimated the everyday family might face one other 24.5% improve over the following 4 years, pushing annual vitality prices even increased after payments have already climbed 84% since 2016.

The forecast sparked outrage amongst prospects, a lot of whom advised The California Submit they had been already scuffling with month-to-month payments working into the tons of of {dollars} regardless of making efforts to scale back their vitality use.

PG&E has disputed these projections, arguing the watchdog’s evaluation did not account for expiring wildfire-related prices and the corporate’s efforts to maintain future price will increase decrease than forecast.

With utility prices already inserting strain on family budgets, PG&E mentioned scammers are exploiting prospects’ fears of getting their electrical energy or gasoline shut off.

The corporate reminded prospects that anybody receiving a suspicious name, electronic mail or textual content demanding instant fee ought to finish the dialog and confirm their account utilizing PG&E’s official web site or customer support channels earlier than sending any cash.

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