California American Water Provides Tips for Identifying Scammers on Utility Scam Awareness Day

By: California American Water via Business Wire

November 20, 2024 at 14:05 PM EST

California American Water wants to keep customers and the public safe on Utility Scam Awareness Day, by providing important tips to help identify and avoid scammers targeting unsuspecting utility customers.

Utility company imposters often attempt to scam individuals in two main ways: 1) they may pose as utility workers to gain access to someone's home; 2) they might urgently contact the person, either by phone or another method, demanding immediate payment to prevent a disruption in services. It's important to be cautious and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a utility worker before letting them into your home or providing any personal information.

California American Water urges customers and the public to verify the identity of utility workers by requesting identification before granting access to their homes or businesses:

Always verify. When unsure about an incoming phone call or email, stop the communication and verify with the utility company's customer service number to confirm legitimacy.
Be skeptical. When receiving a phone call, text message, email, or visit from someone, be sure to ask questions and verify their identity before giving out any personal or financial information.
Remain calm. Scammers thrive on panic. If you are worried, hang up the phone or close and lock your door, and call your utility company to verify.
Never give cash. Our employees and contractors never collect money or credit card information from customers in the field.

By implementing these tips, you can stay one step ahead and safeguard your personal information from being compromised.

For more information, visit the Better Business Bureau here.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About California American Water

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 700,000 people. For more information, visit www.californiaamwater.com and follow California American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.