Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is joining efforts with fellow members of utility consortium Utilities United Against Scams during its third annual Utility Scam Awareness Day to continue its efforts to educate customers on how they can guard against falling victim to impostor utility scams.

If someone appears, calls, texts or emails representing themselves as an LADWP employee demanding payment for a bill immediately to avoid disconnection, ask them for their LADWP-issued identification badge if in person, or verify their identity by calling (800)DIAL-DWP.

Also, customers should never purchase a prepaid debit card or gift card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff. Phone scammers may pose as utility employees and threaten to shut off residential or business service unless an immediate payment is made over the phone, or try to pressure customers into buying products or services, something LADWP would never do.

If you are able to verify that the individual in question is not an LADWP employee, contact local law enforcement authorities.

Follow along on LADWP’s social media accounts Twitter @LADWP and Facebook @LADWP through November 17 for tips on how to guard against scams.