Don’t Be Scammed By Fake DC Water Reps

Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

From DC Water yesterday:

“DC Water this afternoon issued a new reminder for all customers to be aware of and alert to possible scams involving callers or visitors who claim to be from the water authority.

The new warning came after a water customer was convinced to share her credit card information with someone pretending to be from the authority.

In the past, scams involving utility customers have involved visits or in some cases trying to sell water filters or solicit social security numbers. Customers should be aware of the following information:

Please ask for identification from anyone arriving at your home claiming to be from DC Water. (see uniform here: dcwater.com/employees)
DC Water does not dispatch a technician to investigate high water usage or test water quality without the customer requesting the service.
While DC Water does accept payments over the phone and the internet, we never make calls asking for any financial information.
If you want to pay your bill over the internet or over the phone, please only do so when you initiate the transaction.
If you get a call or email asking for bank information, it is probably a scam, so hang up and please call (202) 354-3600 to report it to DC Water.
If someone claiming to be from DC Water shows up at your door asking for access, please do not allow them in and call (202) 354-3600 to report it. DC Water does have a meter replacement project underway- you may call (202) 612-3473 to see if the project team is in your neighborhood.

More information about customer accounts or safer automated payment plans can be found here.”