Utility Scam Awareness: Southwest Gas Offers Tips to Protect Customers

PHOENIX, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Utility scams, including phone calls, emails, and in-person visits, are becoming more sophisticated. Scammers may impersonate utility companies, such as Southwest Gas Corporation ("Southwest Gas" or "Company"), and use high-pressure tactics and threats of service disconnection in an attempt to steal money or personal information. These scams can target both residential and business customers.

Southwest Gas is committed to helping customers recognize and avoid these scams and wants to assure customers that the Company will never threaten immediate service disconnection, demand payment over the phone, or ask for payment or credit card information through methods like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or Bitcoin. Customers with overdue accounts will have already received written notifications from the Company. If a customer receives an unsolicited communication claiming to be from Southwest Gas, hang up and contact Southwest Gas directly at 877-860-6020 to verify authenticity. Customers can also check their account status online or via the Southwest Gas mobile app.

There are multiple ways scammers may attempt to deceive customers. Common tactics include:

• Phone calls claiming your service will be disconnected unless immediate payment is made.
  
  
• Emails that look like official bills, featuring the Southwest Gas logo and/or color scheme but with fraudulent links or attachments.
  
  
• In-person visits from people pretending to be Southwest Gas technicians.

To help protect customers from scams, here are some important tips:

• Be cautious with unsolicited communications. Whether by phone, email, or in-person, always verify the identity of the person. When in doubt, customers are advised to contact Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020.
  
  
• Do not share personal or financial information over the phone or online unless certain of the requester's identity.
  
  
• Never share account information or post pictures of utility bills online and/or on social media. 
  
  
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unsolicited emails.
  
  
• Verify in-person technicians. Southwest Gas technicians and approved contractors routinely work in the areas where the Company provides service to perform maintenance, locate gas lines, and conduct routine leak surveys. They often need access to the natural gas meter on the side of a customer's home or business to perform necessary work. If someone appears at a customer's door claiming to be from Southwest Gas, ask to see their identification badge, which will feature the Southwest Gas logo or contractor logo; their identity can also be verified by calling Southwest Gas directly at 877-860-6020.

Southwest Gas prioritizes the safety of customers and the surrounding community. Please stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Southwest Gas or local law enforcement.

For more tips on how to safely avoid scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website: FTC Scam Prevention. For additional information on how to identify a Southwest Gas employee, visit www.swgas.com/verifyemployee.

About Southwest Gas
Southwest Gas Corporation is a dynamic energy company committed to exceeding the expectations of our over two million customers throughout Arizona, California, and Nevada by providing safe and reliable service while innovating sustainable energy solutions to fuel our communities' growth. For more information about how Southwest Gas is supporting a safe, sustainable energy future, please visit www.swgas.com.

SOURCE Southwest Gas Corporation