WASHINGTON — A local utility company warns that a recent scam could be coming to your door if you live in the D.C. area.
DC Water is warning customers that scammers claiming to represent the utility may be calling and asking for personal information or to send a technician to your home.
Two customers have reported to DC Water that they received calls from scammers. One customer received an at-home visit from someone claiming he was from the water/electric utility and was checking for high water use.
DC Water said that they did not make the calls and did not send a technician.
They also want customers to know that they are not associated with an electric provider.
DC Water urges customers to ask for identification from anyone claiming to be from DC Water and to look on their website at the uniforms that employees should be wearing when they arrive at a home to complete a service call.
DC Water said that they do not dispatch technicians to investigate high water usage or test water quality without the customer requesting the service.
They add that while DC Water does accept payments over the phone and the internet, they never make calls asking for any financial information.
For customers wanting to pay their bills over the internet or over the phone, DC Water said to only do so when it’s the customer initiating the transaction.
If a customer receives a call or email asking for banking information, DC Water says it’s probably a scam and that customers should hang up and call 202-354-3600 to report it.
If someone claiming to be from DC Water shows up at a home asking for access, DC Water says not to let them in and to call them to report it.
DC Water said that they do have a meter replacement project underway in the area and that customers may call 202-612-3473 to see if the project team is in the neighborhood.
