Scammers posing as PG&E workers are turning utility bills into cash cows, siphoning more than $211,000 from customers so far this year, according to utility figures. The latest twist has crooks sending a barcode or QR code after a threatening phone call, then ordering victims to take that code to a store or kiosk so a cashier can process a payment. The ploy shoves money off standard, traceable payment channels and has small businesses around the Bay Area, especially on edge.
In a June 15 press release, PG&E said customers had reported over $211,000 in losses through mid‑2026, with an average hit of $969 per victim this year, compared with a $590 average in 2025. The company repeated that it will never ask for payment via barcode, QR code, prepaid debit card or money‑transfer app, and urged customers to confirm billing details only through official channels.
How the barcode scam works
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics,” the company warned, describing a routine that starts with an urgent call threatening imminent shutoff and ends with a text or email containing a scannable code. Victims are told to present that barcode or QR code at a store so a cashier can take the payment, which sends the money to impostors instead of the utility, according to NBC Bay Area.
Why businesses are being targeted
Small- and medium-sized businesses are getting hit during their busiest moments, with nearly 656 reports of scam attempts against businesses so far this year, putting cases on track to surpass the 846 business reports logged in 2025. Local coverage has highlighted restaurants and retail shops as frequent targets, since scammers know owners are juggling customers and vendors and may rush to pay to keep the lights on, KTVU reported.
How to protect yourself
If someone calls about your utility bill and then sends a barcode or QR code, do not scan it. Hang up, delete the message, and check your account only by logging into the official utility website or calling the phone number printed on your bill. If you think you were defrauded, contact your bank, report the scam to local law enforcement and review advice from the Federal Trade Commission. PG&E also runs a scam‑reporting line and urges anyone with doubts to call 1‑833‑500‑SCAM.
If you or your business were targeted, hang on to any texts or receipts, alert your bank immediately and file a complaint so investigators can trace patterns. The new barcode wrinkle is a stark reminder that legitimate utility representatives will not demand instant payment in unusual forms at your door or after an unsolicited call.
