Pasadena Residents Warned of Fraud Scams

The City of Pasadena has issued a Fraud Alert warning residents of various scams, including those targeting Pasadena Water and Power customers and residents impersonated by scammers posing as local law enforcement.

Scammers, posing as Pasadena Water and Power employees, have been contacting customers from the number (888) 867-9144, attempting to extort money by threatening to shut off service unless immediate payment is made over the phone. Techniques such as spoofing are used to falsify the telephone number, making it appear as if calls are from Pasadena Water and Power. They also replicate Pasadena Water and Power’s recorded customer service message to deceive callers.

Pasadena Water and Power has clarified that a legitimate employee will never demand payment via third-party apps or with gift cards. Customers concerned about a call from Pasadena Water and Power are advised to hang up and call Pasadena Water and Power directly at (626) 744-4005.

Customers with delinquent accounts will always receive a “Final Notice” from Pasadena Water and Power by U.S. mail before any phone contact from Pasadena Water and Power is made. The City of Pasadena also has a Fraud Hotline (626) 744-7448 for reporting suspected cases of fraud, waste, or abuse involving the City of Pasadena, including its employees, officials, contractors, or vendors.

Residents are also advised to be cautious of phone calls demanding money for arrest warrants, as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not call to demand payment for warrants. If there is any doubt about the legitimacy of a caller, residents are encouraged to ask for the caller’s name, identification, employer name, and a call-back number, and to verify the legitimacy of the caller by contacting Pasadena Water and Power, Pasadena Police Department, or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

To protect themselves from identity theft, residents are advised to check the sender’s email address when receiving emails with attachments or links from anyone, and to delete the email right away and not click on any links or open any attachments if the sender’s email address is not from the domain name or person that it claims to be.

The City of Pasadena encourages residents to stay vigilant and report any suspected fraudulent activity to the appropriate authorities.