Elk Grove Water District warns of potential water testing scam

Elk Grove Water District is warning its customers about a potential scam involving false claims that the water is unsafe and contaminated, with scammers attempting to collect personal information. “They’re preying on the vulnerable. Absolutely are,” said Bruce Kamilos, the general manager of the district.He explained that scammers are claiming the water is unsafe to drink and bathe in, and are trying to enter homes to conduct water sampling and collect personal information like Social Security numbers.KCRA 3 has been tracking similar incidents for months in Northern California. The same scenarios were reported in Fairfield in February and Sacramento in April. The Sacramento Utilities Department is still tracking reports of these activities, and Carlos Eliason, a spokesperson for the city, said in a statement:”City of Sacramento Department of Utilities staff are tracking reports we receive from concerned residents about door-to-door scammers who try to trick people into purchasing expensive water treatment equipment for their home.We’ve recently received several reports from residents in the South Natomas neighborhood about these kinds of activities.People can report suspicious activity related to home water “tests” or people leaving behind misleading brochures or flyers about their drinking water by calling 3-1-1.”Kamilos emphasized the safety of Elk Grove’s water.”We have no issues here at all. We meet all federal and state standards. In fact, we exceed them in many areas,” Kamilos said. He assured customers that Elk Grove Water District employees always wear uniforms with the district insignia and will only visit properties for water testing if requested. “They have the Elk Grove Water District insignia on their shirts or on their safety vest. And we would never enter somebody’s private home. We don’t do that here; that’s not our practice,” said Kamilos.KCRA reached out to the Elk Grove Police Department, which sent this statement. “We are aware of the reported incidents involving individuals going door-to-door claiming to test residential water quality. These reports were received over a week ago, and at this time, no crimes were committed. No additional incidents have been reported since.We encourage residents to remain cautious and follow these safety tips:1. Do Not Let Strangers InsideIf you do not know the person at your door, it is safest not to open it. If you do engage, never allow unsolicited individuals into your home, especially those making unexpected claims about your utilities or home services.2. Verify Their IdentityIf someone claims to represent a government agency or utility company, ask for identification and contact the agency directly using an official phone number to verify their legitimacy.3. Protect Your Personal InformationNever share personal or sensitive information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, or financial details, with unverified individuals.We appreciate the community’s vigilance in reporting suspicious activity. If you encounter similar situations, please report them to the Elk Grove Police Department at (916)714-5115.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel