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PG&E doesn't come to your door -- potential scammers do

A Fairfield resident, who asked to not be identified, posted a warning on his social media over the weekend about solicitors allegedly looking to scam PG&E customers. 
 
<p>A Fairfield residents says these two people came to his door, posing as PG&E employees on August 20, 2016.</p>

A Fairfield resident, who asked to not be identified, posted a warning on his social media over the weekend about solicitors allegedly looking to scam PG&E customers.

The poster says two people knocked on his door, claiming they work for PG&E and asking to see the person's energy bill.

But this person was smart. They immediately contacted PG&E and were told the company doesn't have representatives go door-to-door to customers asking for personal information.

The post has been shared over 10,000 times. Even the Winters Police Department shared the post and said these fake PG&E solicitors might be trying something known as a "supplier switch."

The solicitor says they're working on behalf of PG&E and can save the homeowner money if they check out their bill and take down the account number, names, address and other contact information.

This is exactly what happened to the Fairfield resident behind the viral Facebook post.

The person couldn't get the names of the two scammers, but said they were driving in a white Ford E-150 van with the license plate number 6X6W683.

Winters PD said in certain states, customers can change their electric or natural gas suppliers in order to adjust their rates. Companies take advantage of that by hiring solicitors to recruit new customers.

The scam kicks in, according to the police department, if supplier promise low rates then fail to mention the new lower rate is only introductory. This typically follows with skyrocketing rates and long term contracts with high cancelation fees.

"Even if the solicitor only walks away with a name, address, and utility account number they could illegally switch your providers without your consent," the Winters police department said.

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