I already paid at a store using the barcode they sent me, what now?

Report it to PG&E directly through their official customer service line, and file a report with local police. Recovery of funds sent this way is unlikely, but reporting helps track the scam.

PG&E "Barcode Scam": $211,000 Lost in 2026

Q: Does PG&E ask customers to pay via barcode or QR code?

No. PG&E will never ask for financial information over the phone or for payment via bar code, QR code, pre-paid debit cards, or money transfer services like Zelle, and won't ask to see your bill at your door.

What PG&E actually says: the company will never ask for financial information over the phone or for payment via bar code, QR code, pre-paid debit cards, or money transfer services like Zelle, and won't ask to see your bill at your door.

How the scam works

Step 1

The threatening call

Scammers call demanding immediate payment to avoid same-day disconnection.

Step 2

The barcode/QR code

Instead of a bank transfer, they text or email a barcode or QR code — a newer twist that feels more "official" than a typical wire request.

Step 3

The in-person payment

The victim is instructed to bring the code to a store or business and pay a cashier directly, using the code as if it were a real bill payment.

Step 4

The loss

The average reported loss per victim is around $590 — money that goes straight to the scammer, not to PG&E.

How to spot it

Any call threatening same-day disconnection unless you pay immediately.
A barcode or QR code sent by text or email to pay "at a store" — not a real PG&E payment method.
A request for prepaid debit cards or Zelle to settle a bill.

What to do

Hang up and don't act on any payment demand from the call.
Verify directly: call PG&E's official customer service number, not one given by the caller.
Never pay a utility bill via barcode, QR code, gift card, or Zelle based on a phone threat.
If you've already paid, report it to PG&E and file a report with local police.

Egidio: your automatic phishing detector

These scams often follow up with a text link to "confirm" the account or payment. Egidio catches that link before it can do anything.

Egidio screens incoming calls and scans links arriving through your messaging apps in real time and blocks known fake-utility pages the moment they're recognised.

Install Egidio