While assisting a Patelco Credit Union member at the San Jose branch, Christina learned they were being contacted by PG&E about a rebate opportunity for a pre-owned electric vehicle. The offer immediately raised Christina’s curiosity, prompting her to take a closer look at the member’s transaction history and ask a few more questions.
What she found was alarming — a recent $20,000 cash advance from the member’s credit card stood out sharply against their usual activity. Christina’s instincts told her something wasn’t right, and she suspected a scam.
To help the member get clarity, Christina suggested they call PG&E together. She wanted the member to hear directly from the source. On the call, PG&E confirmed they do not offer rebates for used EVs, do not partner with dealerships, and would never recommend purchasing specific vehicles, which validated Christina’s concerns.
Christina’s quick thinking and proactive approach saved the member from a very costly scam and protected her from losing her hard-earned money. Christina also protected Patelco from a significant loss as the rebate for that EV would never come, leaving our member with a debt that she was not prepared to pay.
This story was submitted by Jennifer Mink, Director of Member Experience & Financial Wellbeing, Patelco Credit Union.
