Earthquake Gas Shutoff Scam In Trabuco Canyon

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — If you're a Southern California Gas Co. customer thinking about ordering an earthquake shutoff valve, beware of scammers making false rebate promises, Patch has learned.

Earlier this week, a SoCalGas customer in Orange County reported being approached by a door-to-door salesperson offering to install an earthquake shutoff valve and promising that SoCalGas would provide a rebate, Vanessa Skillman of SoCalGas said.

That Tustin resident found out the rebate was far from the truth. While earthquake shutoff valves are available and can be installed by a licensed professional, SoCalGas does not currently offer a rebate for installing earthquake shutoff valves, Skillman explained.

In the event of an earthquake, SoCalGas advises customers not to shut off their own gas service unless they smell, hear, or see signs of a natural gas leak -- and only if conditions are safe to do so, according to Skillman.

"SoCalGas' natural gas system is resilient during earthquakes and shaking does not typically result in a natural gas leak," she said.

If you do feel the need to shut off your natural gas during an earthquake or other emergency? never attempt to restore natural gas service yourself, Skillman said.

Customers who have shut off their service should call SoCalGas at 800- 427-2200 -- or 800-342-4545 for Spanish speakers -- to schedule an appointment to have their natural gas service safely restored by a professional.

"Anyone approached at home by someone claiming to be a SoCalGas representative should verify the person's identification before letting anyone in their home or on their property," she said.

What are the most common scams targeting utility customers? Learn more about scam alerts on socalgas.com.