PORTLAND, Ore. -- A man posed as a Portland Water Bureau employee in order to steal $44 from a woman Tuesday.

The victim said the imposter showed up at her home around 11 a.m. in a small, white pickup truck bearing the name, "City of Portland" above a rose logo-like image and "Department of Water Bureau" beneath the image.

He demanded $40 from the woman in order to keep her water on. Coincidentally, the victim was nearing a three-day shut-off period, a warning given to customers who have not paid their bills.

She asked if he would take a check and he said he wouldn't so the man returned to her home two hours later to collect a $40 money order and another $4 that he said would, "buy her time."

The thief was described as a white man with a big build, reddish-brown hair with a clean-cut beard and mustache.

He wore a white button-up shirt with embroidery identifying him either as Stan or Steve. The victim described him as an older man with a tattoo on his left forearm and a noticeable space between his front teeth.

The Portland Water Bureau said that although employees may make home visits, they will never collect money from customers.

Anyone who has a run-in with the scam artist should call 911.