Thieving crew clearing out houses, pretending to be from Pacific Power
PACIFIC POWER NEWS RELEASE -- The holiday season can make for busy residential streets with extra deliveries and strangers knocking on your door. Pacific Power wants to remind customers not to be fooled by anyone misrepresenting themselves as company employees.
Recently in Southeast Portland, thieves targeted elderly and non-English speaking Portland General Electric customers, saying they were from the utility and needed access to the customers' homes. There are no reported incidents of this occurring to Pacific Power's customers, but wariness is in order.
"We're very concerned that this is happening, and that there may be people who have not reported these tactics," said Pat Egan, vice president of customer and community affairs. "We take very seriously any efforts to victimize our customers, especially using our company's good customer relationships and reputation."
Pacific Power offers the following suggestions for customer safety and security:
* Pacific Power employees always wear identification badges when performing work in the field. If the ID is not visible and you don't see any other Pacific Power logo, you should ask the individual to show you their badge.
* All Pacific Power vehicles are marked with the company's name or logo. If you are approached by someone claiming to be from Pacific Power, check to see if their vehicle is clearly marked and/or ask for ID.
* Verification is easy: If you have any doubts or concerns that a visitor or caller represents Pacific Power, call Pacific Power toll-free at 1-888-221-7070 to confirm the person's identity and role with the company before proceeding with any transaction.
* If Pacific Power contacts a customer, the representative will always have the customer's account number. Even then, if you are approached by phone and have any concerns about the validity of the call, it is always appropriate to let the caller know you prefer to call them back. They can always be reached through the toll-free 1-888-221-7070 number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
* As another safeguard, if a customer calls Pacific Power to ask questions or pay their bill, the customer will be asked specifically to verify his or her identity to protect access to their account.
* Also, Pacific Power employees will not demand immediate payment for damaged or broken electrical equipment or any other service. Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you and asks for on-the-spot payment, especially if they ask for cash.
* Customers should never provide unsolicited callers or visitors with credit card numbers or any other information that may compromise their financial security.
Anyone receiving such visits or calls about their utility bill is encouraged to pay attention to any information -- such as license plate numbers, a number that appears on caller ID or an address where they're supposed to send money -- and to report the incident to local police and Pacific Power.
Egan added, "we'd like to thank in advance the news media and community organizations for their help in protecting the public."
For additional information, call Pacific Power toll-free at 1-888-221-7070, or visit www.pacificpower.net.
Recently in Southeast Portland, thieves targeted elderly and non-English speaking Portland General Electric customers, saying they were from the utility and needed access to the customers' homes. There are no reported incidents of this occurring to Pacific Power's customers, but wariness is in order.
"We're very concerned that this is happening, and that there may be people who have not reported these tactics," said Pat Egan, vice president of customer and community affairs. "We take very seriously any efforts to victimize our customers, especially using our company's good customer relationships and reputation."
Pacific Power offers the following suggestions for customer safety and security:
* Pacific Power employees always wear identification badges when performing work in the field. If the ID is not visible and you don't see any other Pacific Power logo, you should ask the individual to show you their badge.
* All Pacific Power vehicles are marked with the company's name or logo. If you are approached by someone claiming to be from Pacific Power, check to see if their vehicle is clearly marked and/or ask for ID.
* Verification is easy: If you have any doubts or concerns that a visitor or caller represents Pacific Power, call Pacific Power toll-free at 1-888-221-7070 to confirm the person's identity and role with the company before proceeding with any transaction.
* If Pacific Power contacts a customer, the representative will always have the customer's account number. Even then, if you are approached by phone and have any concerns about the validity of the call, it is always appropriate to let the caller know you prefer to call them back. They can always be reached through the toll-free 1-888-221-7070 number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
* As another safeguard, if a customer calls Pacific Power to ask questions or pay their bill, the customer will be asked specifically to verify his or her identity to protect access to their account.
* Also, Pacific Power employees will not demand immediate payment for damaged or broken electrical equipment or any other service. Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you and asks for on-the-spot payment, especially if they ask for cash.
* Customers should never provide unsolicited callers or visitors with credit card numbers or any other information that may compromise their financial security.
Anyone receiving such visits or calls about their utility bill is encouraged to pay attention to any information -- such as license plate numbers, a number that appears on caller ID or an address where they're supposed to send money -- and to report the incident to local police and Pacific Power.
Egan added, "we'd like to thank in advance the news media and community organizations for their help in protecting the public."
For additional information, call Pacific Power toll-free at 1-888-221-7070, or visit www.pacificpower.net.
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