As predicted, the scumbags are back. I just received a call from “John” about my PG&E (electric utility) bill that is overdue and will be disconnected in half an hour. I need to call 800-660-0974 right away. So I told him, don’t hang up, let me call the number from my other line to make sure I have the correct number. The real PG&E IVR answered, so I hung up. Thanked John profusely for his kindness in giving me the opportunity to make payment arrangements. He offered to connect me to his manager, but I declined. I said I’ll just call in a bit.
I tried calling from Textnow but it only rang, heard a pickup but total silence. My landline got through, I spoke with the billing department but mid sentence because I didn't want to scambait using my real phone. Note: No harm there, John asked for me by name, so obviously they have a list of PG&E customers with name and phone numbers.
Usual shit. $498 bill, I’m sorry I couldn’t pay because I lost my job. Asked for extension. He said no, technicians are already on their way to disconnect your line. Call me back when you have the cash. No, wait, my daughter just texted me, she has $500 cash I can borrow. She lives 5 minutes away, I can pick it up and take it to the PG&E office. NO! You need to go to 7-11 or Walgreens to pay via Express Payment because that’s the only way to stop the technicians. Call be back when you’re in the parking lot. Click.
They are super busy! Lots of buzzing in the background, sounds like a call center, not home based.
@jaymee#138403 Whole lotta fun this one! Granny called up and asked why she was receiving a call from them. A Mr. Kevin Lewis asked for her name and address, and even though the address was in Maryland, nowhere near where PG&E services, it turns out that Granny had $498.30 past due on her account and they were sending a crew to disconnect her electricity as that very minute! Oh my, Granny can’t survive without electricity due to her advanced age and reliance on medical equipment like the oxygen generator that she uses all day. She was sure that the last bill was paid, and she even has a duplicate check in her register to prove it! What to do, what to do?
Well, Mr. Lewis said that since she had proof she had paid, he could launch an investigation, but it would take a few days and they would still disconnect her electric. BUT, there may be a way - so he transferred the call to the billing department where they can probably help out and cancel the disconnect.
So Supervisor Daniel Jackson (my favorite character on Stargate SG-1 BTW) got on the phone and told Granny that she needed to process an "Express Payment". And if the investigation shows that it was an error on their part, the payment would be refunded. All she needed to do is go to one of the PG&E authorized payment centers - Walgreens, CVS, 7-11, etc... and purchase a "Money-Pak" for $498.30. Oh, and there will be a $5.95 service fee. He went to great pains to explain that it is a green card that is cardboard, not plastic, and should be somewhere by where the pre-paid Visa and other cards are located. Of course, If they ask, you don't want them to process the payment (they are an authorized payment center after all!), and just want the card loaded for personal use. Oh, and they must be purchased with CASH - they won't take credit or debit card payments - so Granny would have to drop by the bank first to pickup the loot. Once done, Granny needs to call Mr. Jackson back at the same toll free number (1-800-660-0974).
I wonder what adventure Granny is going to encounter on her travels this time <grin>
@Otis#138414 Thank you. Pretty much the same as Iñogo Montoya’s experience. On hold now with PG&E, the real one. Conscience tells me I should put a stop to this ASAP, real folks are being victimized. Extended hold, though, so let’s have fun while they’re still around.
I guess Iñigo Montoya will be making more calls. PG&E said report it to your local law enforcement, but they won’t be able to do anything because you didn’t lose any money. Very well, be that way.
@jaymee#138420 I tried to report it as well - no joy. I guess Granny will give them a call back and inform them that she was unable to get the money-pak, but did get a money order - same thing, right?
@Otis#138428 Holy crap batman! I called back and got transferred to Mr. Jackson. I told him that the bank has a $200 a day limit on the amount of money that I could take out of the ATM, so I couldn’t get the cash to buy the Money-Pak card. He got all concerned and asked what kind of payment did I get. I explained that there was a post office a block away, so I went there and got a USPS money order in the amount of $498.30. He said “No, no - that is not the right kind of payment - you have to take it back!”. I told him that wasn’t possible, and asked what the problem was, since it was the amount he said I owed - I could just give it to the crew when they come to disconnect my power. He grumbled a bit, and said to stay on the line and put me on hold. About 20 seconds later, the phone hung up.
Grrrr... Ok, so I called back and asked for him again. The guy who answered put me on hold, then got back on the line and said that Mr. Jackson was in a conference call and couldn't talk at the moment, and what the call was about. I told him that I was supposed to call Mr. Jackson as soon as I got home from the store and that was what I was doing. "Oh, did you get the payment cards, the Money-pak cards maam?". So I told him the same story about the ATM limit and getting the Money Order instead. He asked if I could cash the MO, and I told him I couldn't as it was made out to PG&E. He was obviously pissed off but kept his cool. I asked him what the problem was, since they said I owed this money and now I have a money order for them which is good as cash... and how I can just give it to the crew when they come to my door. I think he realized at that point that it was a lost cause, so he said "No problem maam... I'll contact the crew and cancel the disconnect, and then tomorrow you can go to the local PG&E office and give them the money order". I told him I appreciated his help and thanked him for helping out an old lady. He ended the call with "No problem maam, have a great day and thank you".
Also reported to the suspected 800 carrier, zipwhip, who will see if indeed this is one of their toll free numbers. Told the rep about the scam. She’ll look into it.
Today, 5/14/20, the number is kaput. These numbers have a very short half life. Thanks to all for flooding them.
But wait, there's more.
The called ID of that original call to my home is (800) 747-3551. Of course I called it from a burner, and ... drumroll please ... it is our old friend Jessica from medical alert!
Damn these scammers. I posted a warning on our local Facebook Crime group and just a few minutes ago I received a response from a victim. She lost $350 through moneypak bought at 7-11. The spiel this time isn’t unpaid bills. It’s the electric meter that’s defective, and you need to pay a refundable deposit to have it replaced. All baloney, of course, but as we know, these scammers catch vulnerable victims at the right (or wrong) time. Makes my resolve even stronger. Hit back these motherfuckers.
She did a screenshot of the phone number: 800-607-0489. Tried calling it, busy signal. But will keep it on file. Please, comrades, try calling these scammers' numbers from time to time.
then get new number to many requests 
they were getting salty