A nationwide email scam is targeting utility customers by sending bogus invoices directing them to a virus-infected site.

The scam emails claimed to be from PG&E Energy, an electric gas utility in San Francisco or Atmos Energy, a natural gas utility in Dallas.

The fraudulent billing message tells customers that their Atmos or PG&E bill is ready and provides a hyperlink to view it.  If you click on the hyperlink you would be taken to a site that would infect your device with malware which could pull your banking information or steal your usernames and passwords.

Better Business Bureaus around the country are seeing big increases in phony utility company invoices, according to an official at a BBB serving northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan.

Customers are advised to ignore suspicious requests for personal information, such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers and user names and passwords and delete such emails without clicking on any hyperlinks. 

If you receive a suspicious email regarding your electric account, please contact your local PUD office to verify authenticity.