“DC Water Warns Customers About Scammers Impersonating Utility Workers”

Photo by John Sonderman

From DC Water:

“DC Water is warning customers to beware of people claiming to represent the utility to gain access to their homes.

DC Water was made aware of a police report that says two suspects dressed as construction workers approached a home in the 3000 block of M Street, SE. Police say the men claimed to be from DC Water and said they “needed to check pipes inside the home. The homeowner refused to let them in, at which point the suspects produced a handgun and tried to force their way into the home. The homeowner was able to get the door shut and the suspects fled the location.”

The suspects do not work for DC Water and our crews will not try to gain access to a property without prior authorization. If someone claiming to be from DC Water shows up at your door asking for access, please do not allow them in. If you fear for your safety, call 911 immediately to report the suspicious behavior. We also ask that you call our Customer Care Department at (202) 354-3600 to report it.

Customers should verify the identification of all utility employees coming to their homes. DC Water employees drive distinctively marked DC Water vehicles with DC municipal license plates, wear uniforms with DC Water logo patches and always carry a District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority photo identification card.

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)
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.”