Portland Water Bureau Warns Residents Against Imposters

While the Water Bureau must make home visits in certain circumstances, a Water Bureau employee will never collect money from a customer at the home.

Be weary of any water district employees who approach residents for payment of late bills. Photo: Portland Water Bureau

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Portland Water Bureau was alarmed to find that a person posing as a Water Bureau employee successfully scammed $44 out of a customer last week. Showing up at her front door, the imposter demanded $40 from the customer in order to keep her water on. Coincidentally, the victim was nearing a three-day shut-off period, a warning given to customers who have not paid their bills.

The customer asked the imposter if he would take a check, which he declined to do. He returned to the victim's home two hours later to collect a $40 money order from the victim, and an additional $4 that he said would, "buy her time."

The victim says that the imposter showed up at her home around 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 29th in a small, white pick-up truck bearing the name, "City of Portland" above a rose logo-like image and "Department of Water Bureau" beneath the image.

The imposter was described as, "Caucasian…had a big build, reddish brown hair with a clean cut beard and mustache." He wore a white button-up shirt with embroidery identifying him either as, "Stan," or "Steve."

He was described as an older man with a tattoo on his left forearm and a noticeable space (disastema) between his front teeth.

While the Water Bureau must make home visits in certain circumstances, a Water Bureau employee will never collect money from a customer at the home. Additionally, all Water Bureau employees wear clothing bearing a Water Bureau logo, carry a City of Portland identification badge with their photograph, and drive city vehicles that have, "Water Bureau," printed below the city seal logo.

The public is advised to call 9-1-1 should the imposter described above or any other suspicious person posing as a Water Bureau employee approach them. Additionally, the public is advised to call Water Bureau's Security team at 503-823-6084, with details of the incident. Water Bureau security is currently working with local police to track down this scam artist.

Source: Portland Water Bureau