Scam targeting South Lake Tahoe businesses

Submitted by paula on Wed, 03/02/2016 - 9:32pm

Two South Lake Tahoe businesses lost almost $1,000 each this past week when scammers called them, demanding payment of an electrical bill or their power would be shut off.

In both cases, individuals claiming to represent Liberty Utilities called the businesses and demanded payment. The business owners were directed to purchase a prepaid credit card and then call them back with the card number.

Liberty Utilities representatives will not place calls to customers for payment.

“We appreciate our customers contacting us about these deceptive calls from individuals claiming to represent Liberty, Pacific Electric or other so-called utilities,” stated Sam Rohn, Liberty Utility’s Environmental, Health, Safety & Security Manager in a 2013 warning to customers. “We encourage our customers not to give out any proprietary or personal information. Liberty Utilities will already have your specific account information on record.”

Liberty encourages customers who receive such a call to contact us at 1-800-782-2506.

NV Energy customers, as well as Liberty Utility residential customers have all been targeted over the past several years.