Water District Scam Alert: Temecula Customers Watch For Scammers

TEMECULA, CA — Scam artists posing as representatives for utility companies in and around Temecula are on the rise, officials say.

In Riverside County, customers of Eastern Municipal Water District should watch out for scam artists posing as utility representatives—people seeking bill payments through online vendors like Zelle, Paypal or Venmo.

Customers of the district live in Canyon Lake, Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris, and Temecula as well as unincorporated communities of French Valley, Good Hope, Homeland, Lakeview, Mead Valley, Murrieta Hot Springs, Nuevo, Romoland, Valle Vista and Winchester.

If you get a call saying you owe money to the EMWD? Hang up and do your research, officials say. According to the Riverside County District Attorney's office, there are multiple scams out there that residents need to be aware of, and this recent utility scam is but one of them.

A solid strategy is never to pay money over the phone and always hang up and call the utility number as printed on your bill or visit the website.

According to EMWD, the scam has happened to multiple customers. Officials said that customers reported receiving calls from unknown phone numbers where callers order them to pay water and sewer bills immediately or be disconnected.

The fraudsters instruct ratepayers to release funds "via peer-to-peer mobile payment application connected directly to the customer's bank account, such as Zelle, PayPal or Venmo."

"EMWD never has, and never would, request bill payments in this manner," the utility stated.

The utility advised anyone who receives such calls or messages to ignore them.

All questions or concerns should go to the EMWD Customer Service Department at 800-426-3693.

Updates on account balances are available by calling 951-383-6055. Remember, customers can pay online at www.myaccount.emwd.org

According to EMWD Board of Directors President Phil Paule, protecting the customers' accounts and financial information is something the utility's highest priority, saying: "EMWD is actively working to investigate these calls and remains committed to offering our customers a safe and secure method to pay their account balances through our website and automated phone systems."

In Riverside County, watch out for the following scams:

• DA's Office Warns of Kidnap/Ransom Scam
• DA's Office Warns of Rental Listing Scams
• Residents Warned of Jury Duty Service Scam
• Beware the Grandparent Scam
• Avoid Scams
• Consumer Information

Wholesale water is supplied to the cities of Hemet, San Jacinto and Perris; Lake Hemet Municipal Water District; Nuevo Water Company; Rancho Californa Water District; and Western Municipal Water District.