DATE: July 6, 2012 11:09:20 AM PDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCAM ALERT
Beware of Impostors Posing as LADWP Workers Who Seek Bill Payment Over the Phone

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) cautions customers to beware of impostors posing as utility personnel making service-related telephone calls. These impostors seek to obtain money via a bogus unpaid LADWP balance by asking the customer to go to a nearby pharmacy and call a specific telephone number back with the customer's financial information.

LADWP customers have reported increasing incidents of this scam, and the Department is acutely aware of this scheme and on security alert regarding this and other fraudulent practices. The LADWP never calls customers seeking personal banking information.

"Distraction telephone calls are an important issue for us but the good news is, this form of victimization is easily preventable," said Patrick Findley, Director of LADWP Security Services Division. "The more our customers know about it, the less likely it is to happen, so help us spread the word among your family, friends and neighbors."

To report suspicious activity to the Department: call LADWP Security Services at (213) 367-3373 or (213) 367-9111, or email SecurityServicesWebNotification@ladwp.com, or visit www.ladwp.com and click Security Issue under Contact Us.

For more information contact:
Jane Galbraith
LADWP Public Affairs
voice: (213) 367-1361