SMUD warns customers of scam

Officials from SMUD are urging customers to be on the lookout for scammers claiming to represent SMUD and threatening disconnection if immediate payments are not made. A scam currently being used works like this: • Scammers contact a customer — sometimes from a phone number that appears to be SMUD's customer service number — and threaten disconnection if a payment is not made within 20-40 minutes via a pre-paid debit card, often at a pay station such as CVS or Safeway stores (not authorized SMUD pay stations). Some scammers have even asked for a cash payment to be made in person at a public location. • The scammer demands that the customer call back a non-SMUD number with payment details. • When the customer calls the number, it is answered with a recording of SMUD's phone-based customer service menu. • When the customer chooses a menu option, the call will go to voicemail or will be answered by a scammer posing as a SMUD employee. SMUD representatives will never call a customer and direct them to a non-SMUD payment facility or require a specific method of payment such as cash, wire payment or money card. A list of authorized SMUD pay stations with a map of nearby locations can be viewed by visiting smud.org/Pay. If customers receive a suspicious call, SMUD asks them to ask for a name and number, then hang up and call SMUD at one of the following published numbers: Residential customers: 1-888-742-SMUD (7683) Business customers: 1-877-622-SMUD (7683) Customers can also email SMUD at scamreporting@smud.org with the same information. To learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud, visitsmud.org/Scam.