SMUD Reports Scam Attempt

Our electric utility, SMUD, has alerted residents of attempts to scam customers by callers who claim to represent SMUD and threaten disconnection if immediate payments are not made. The scammer demands payment by any of several of several methods and locations, allof which are bogus. The scammer demands that the business 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 a wire transfer or money card. 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.