Safety alerts from SPD and City Light

by | Nov 17, 2016

Seattle Police Department is alerting residents to be safe when it comes to door-to-door salespeople, who are required to have a visible photo ID and license provided by the City of Seattle.

Here’s what the seller’s photo ID should look like:

spd-residentialsellerid-resized

They also need to have a Residential Sales License:

residentialsellerlicense-resized

When someone does knock on your door, SPD says you should always answer the door WITHOUT opening it. (This lets potential burglars know that someone is home.) You should get a good look at the person either through a peep hole or a side window. If they’re selling something, ask to see their license. If you want to find out if their license is valid, call the general number for the Regulatory Control and Consumer Protection Division at 206-684-8484 or inspector Ron Halas directly at 206-233-0050.

If someone is aggressive or something just feels wrong, always call 911.

And Seattle City Light is warning customers to be alert to scammers who may pose as City Light employees. City Light and SPD produced a video with tips on how to protect yourself.

When a customer is past due on a bill, Seattle City Light will take steps to notify the customer multiple times before shutting off power. Seattle City Light will always direct customers to the secure online payment system atwww.seattle.gov/light or to call (206) 684-3000 to make a payment. Seattle City Light employees will never ask for payment in person and will always be able to produce identification if informing a customer in-person of a past-due bill.

During winter, scammers may attempt to take advantage of the perfect storm of higher heating bills that come with lower temperatures. Scammers may demand thousands of dollars and threaten to shut off power if payment isn’t made immediately. Vulnerable residents, including non-English speaking individuals, elderly people, and small-business owners may be targeted by scammers. These threats can take place over the phone, by email or in person at customer homes and businesses. Some scammers use caller ID impersonating Seattle City Light’s customer service number to convince customers that they are talking to the utility.

If customers have concerns about the validity of a contact and want to ensure they’re talking to Seattle City Light, they are encouraged to call Seattle City Light directly at (206) 684-3000. Learn more about how to avoid becoming a victim at: www.seattle.gov/light/EndScams.

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