District Advisories—Scams & Fraud

The District has been made aware of at least one incident where a resident received an automated call from what appeared to be the Left Hand Water District indicating an issue with a payment card. This has become a common scheme, where fraudsters can “spoof” a number and make the caller ID appear as though it comes from a utility company, and calls with a warning that service is in danger of being disconnected immediately if payment is not made. Residents should be aware that any account in arrears that may be subject to disconnection for non-payment would be sent written notice. It is very rare that District staff would contact a customer directly regarding an account, and even in those cases payment options would be offered through our website; District personnel would not demand credit card or bank information over the phone. We also do not accept prepaid cards or gift cards as payment. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. If you have any concerns regarding your account, contact our office at 303-530-4200 or log in to your Xpress Bill Pay account to review your account. Do not contact any number you are given or that displays on the caller ID, as those will likely contact the scammers.

“Distraction Burglary” Schemes

“Distraction Burglary” is a method of burglarizing a home that is becoming more common. “Distraction Burglary” involves a “visitor,” typically posing as someone from a service company such as a roofer or tree trimmer or a utility such as an electric or water company, who distracts the homeowner with a tale of some kind of repair that needs done or work they’re doing in the area, and an accomplice then burglarizes the home while the homeowner is distracted. The most frequent targets for these types of burglaries are the elderly and vulnerable.

The Left Hand Water District reminds customers: please take steps to protect yourself from such an incident. Left Hand Water District field personnel will always be driving vehicles identifiable by the District’s logo, and will always be wearing District uniforms – shirts, jackets, etc., that have the District name and logo on them. Anyone who is approached by someone claiming to be a utility worker should be cautious and look for identifiable uniforms and vehicle markings. If you aren’t sure, don’t give the person access to your home; in the case of someone claiming to be on official business, contact the agency to confirm they are on legitimate business – the District’s main line 303-530-4200 can be called any time and District staff or our after-hours answering service can verify the identity of technicians if it is legitimately a District employee. Suspicious activity should be reported to the appropriate Sheriff’s office or Police Department.

Water Quality Scams

District customers are encouraged to be wary of door-to-door water filtration system sales people making false claims regarding the quality of drinking water. Several incidents have been reported within the District, and many around the country, where individuals have approached residents attempting to sell water filtration or treatment systems and provide inaccurate information. Residents should beware of any sales pitch involving in-home “water quality tests” – often these are used to “prove” contamination, but in reality only indicate the presence of naturally-occurring minerals in the water. The District’s constant goal is to provide safe and dependable water, and our drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state water quality standards. Our annual Consumer Confidence Report, which provides information about the water and services we provide, can be accessed on our Water Quality page, and our Water Treatment staff are always happy to answer questions regarding water quality. They can be contacted by calling the District’s office at 303-530-4200. Customers with further questions or concerns can also contact the Colorado Health Department Drinking Water Program, which is the primary state agency responsible for enforcement of water quality standards.