Watch Out for Water Agency Imposters
September 19, 2013
The San Diego County Water Authority is warning residents to watch for scam artists posing as fake water utility employees…
The San Diego County Water Authority is warning residents to watch for scam artists posing as fake water utility employees after a series of recent incidents in which imposters appeared intent on gaining entry to homes.
The recent cases involve fake utility representatives calling local residents and offering to test their water for pollution or contamination – presumably seeking opportunities for theft or fraud. In some cases, the callers said they were with a local water agency, while at least one solicitor posed as a Water Authority employee.
The Water Authority and its member agencies are not responsible for fixing problems or testing inside private residences and rarely have reason to ask for entry. If a water agency were to need in-home contact with a resident, someone would call first to make an appointment. Residents are advised that if anyone claiming to be a water utility employee comes to their home without an appointment they should refuse entry and contact their local water agency.
Legitimate water agency employees will have proper identification, be willing to show it and provide a supervisor’s phone number at the agency for verification. They typically will be driving clearly marked agency vehicles with government license plates.
Homeowners should check any phone number provided for verification with the number for their water agency on their water bill or in the phone book to make sure it is legitimate. Any supposed water agency employee who refuses to wait while the agency is contacted should be considered a fraud and reported to police.
Utility scams can take many forms, including requests for bill payment with a credit card, demands that residents buy certain water treatment products and sales pitches for water line insurance. In some cases, imposters go door-to-door. In others, they work by phone. Imposters may work in pairs, with one person talking to the resident while the other cases the home for valuables.
Residents who aren’t sure what water agency serves their property can go to sdcwa.org and enter their address under “find your water district."