PG&E customers warned of ‘barcode scam’

Pacific Gas and Electric warned customers of a surge in scam calls, with 147 incidents reported across five California counties this year, concentrated in Santa Cruz County. Scammers now use barcodes or QR codes sent via text or email to demand payment, and PG&E customers have lost over $211,000 so far in 2026.

Getting your Trinity Audio //trinityaudio.ai player ready...SANTA CRUZ — Pacific Gas and Electric is sounding the alarm about a wave of scam calls sweeping across the Central Coast region that have been most densely concentrated in Santa Cruz County. The utility provider announced that customers across five California counties have reported 147 scamming incidents so far this year. Of that total, 67 reports, or 45.5%, came from Santa Cruz County alone, including 24 of which were reported by Santa Cruz residents and 19 by those living in Watsonville. Monterey County residents were contacted 61 times and Santa Barbara, San Benito and San Luis Obispo counties reported nine, seven and three incidents each, respectively. According to PG&E, these rising numbers are still likely an undercount, as most scamming incidents go unreported. The recent hoaxes utilize some familiar tactics that begin with a phone call to a PG&E customer and a demand for immediate payment to avoid disconnection. But a new ploy includes the scammers sending a barcode or QR code via text or email, with instructions to take those codes to a store or business and present to a cashier to make a payment. So far in 2026, PG&E customers have lost more than $211,000 to these scams, a total that is on pace to exceed the 2025 figure of $301,000 by an estimated 30%, according to a release from the utility provider. The average loss per customer this year is $969 compared to $590 in 2025. “Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to defraud customers, and the latest ‘barcode scam’ is a prime example of that. What hasn’t changed is that they are still demanding immediate payment of your bill to avoid disconnection. If you receive a call of this nature, hang up. If someone at your door asks to see your utility bill, close the door. Then, call our 800 number or log into your account at PGE.com to verify your billing details,” said PG&E lead scam investigator Matt Foley. “Remember, PG&E will never ask you for financial information over the phone or for payment via bar code, QR code or pre-paid debit cards or money transfer services like Zelle, and we won’t ask to see your bill at your door.” PG&E officials have also noticed a trend where small- and medium-sized businesses are targeted by scammers who take advantage of owners’ concerns about keeping their businesses afloat. This year alone, PG&E noted it has received almost 656 reports of scam attempts that targeted business owners, often during busy hours of the day. This year’s total is likely to surpass the 846 reported incidents in 2025. Signs of a potential scam that customers should be on the lookout for include a threat to disconnect, a request to see the customer’s bill or being asked deliver immediate payment via a prepaid debit card or money transfer, as well as refund or rebate offers. Customers can protect themselves by never purchasing a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff, as PG&E does not specify how customers should make that type of bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill that include accepting payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person, according to the release. PG&E advised the public that if a scammer threatens immediate disconnection or a shutoff of services without prior notification, customers should hang up the phone, delete the email or shut the door. Those with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail and included with their regular monthly bill. If someone does come to the door claiming to be a PG&E employee, the company noted that all its personnel carry identification and are always prepared to show it upon request. When in doubt, customers can always call 800-743-5000 to confirm whether an individual is there on official company business. If at any time someone asks the customer for their bill, PG&E noted that’s a sign that the individual is not one of their employees and the customer should close the door. PG&E never sends just a single notification within an hour of service interruption and never asks customers to make payments with prepaid cards, gift cards, cryptocurrencies or mobile applications like Venmo and Zelle, the company noted in its release. PGE.com http://Pge.com is also a reliable source and useful safeguard because that’s where customers can check their balance, payment history and set up recurring payments. Another new deception tactic observed in the recent scams is individuals impersonating trusted callers by creating authentic-looking numbers that begin with “800” and are on display with caller ID. The fraudulent numbers don’t connect back to the company and if a customer has doubts, they can call PG&E at 1-833-500-SCAM. If a customer feels they are in physical danger, they should immediately call 911. More scam information is online at pge.com/scams https://www.pge.com/en/account/customer-service/scams.html?vnt=scams or consumer.ftc.gov https://consumer.ftc.gov/ .