PSE customer alert:

Be aware of scams targeting utility consumers

PSE wants you to be aware of scammers and con artists who target utility consumers across the country by posing as utility representatives and demanding immediate payment of an “overdue” bill to avoid disconnection of your energy service.

Recent scams include:

• Scammers calling customers stating they have an overpayment, but need bank information to issue a refund. PSE will not ask for your bank information. Any refund will be credited to your account.
• Scammers going door-to-door offering to restore power for a fee, or asking if your power is out. This is NOT something PSE workers would do.
• Phone calls using “spoofing technology” that displays Puget Sound Energy’s name and phone number when they call to threaten disconnection of service—usually within 30 minutes—if immediate payment is not made with a prepaid debit or money card.
• A caller, falsely claiming to be from Puget Sound Energy, leaves a message to call back a number, usually an unfamiliar 1-800 or area code number.

Protect yourself

Contact us and local authorities if you suspect or experience fraudulent activity.

• PSE never asks or requires customers who have delinquent accounts to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
• Customers who have delinquent accounts receive multiple notifications from us by mail and over the phone for several weeks prior to disconnection.
• Customers with concerns about a call to pay their bill should hang up and call us directly at 1-888-225-5773 by looking up the phone number on PSE.com or on their PSE bill.
• We encourage you to report suspicious, fraudulent calls and emails. These agencies have taken the lead on investigating utility scams:
  
  Washington Attorney General’s Office
  1-800-551-4636
  www.atg.wa.gov/FileAComplaint.aspx#Online
  
  Federal Trade Commission
  1-877-FTC-HELP
  www.ftc.gov/complaint