Scam alert: New fraud targets Franklin PUD electric customers

A different scam has targeted Franklin PUD customers with the aim of stealing people’s personal information.

A PUD customer complained someone called with an “indoor pollution survey” but utility officials aren’t doing a survey.

“The scammers are ‘spoofing’ the public agency’s phone number, making the caller ID appear as ‘Office Franklin PUD’ to seem more legitimate,” said a Franklin PUD news release. “They sound convincing, but this is a tactic to gain trust and obtain personal information.”

While the agency does collect information for its Clean Energy Implementation Plan, customers won’t get calls directly from the PUD to ask for their participation.

PUD officials urge anyone getting one of the calls to hang up immediately and do not try to call the number back.

Instead, they are asking you to report the call to the Franklin PUD at 509-547-5591. Customer service representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

You can also contact the Pasco police at 509-628-0333 to report the scam.

While survey scams are unusual for Franklin PUD, they commonly target retail customers. Often they offer large awards for a few questions, while collecting personal information, according to the Better Business Bureau.

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM.