CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nov.
15 marks the second annual Utility
Scam Awareness Day, with natural gas and electric utility companies
across the United States and
Canada joining forces to inform
customers and protect them from imposter utility scams. By sharing
information and working together, Utilities United Against Scams
(UUAS), is arming customers with the knowledge to spot scams and
protect their information.
As part of the UUAS collaboration, communications are planned
with customers during the week of Nov.
13 through the website, newsletters, email, bill messages,
video, media, advertising and social media content.
"While Duke Energy customers have become nearly 50 percent less
susceptible to scams since the formation of UUAS in 2016, scams
continue to evolve," said Jared
Lawrence, vice president of meter services and Piedmont
Natural Gas operations, and executive chairman of Utilities United
Against Scams. "By knowing what to look for, customers can continue
to shut down scammers and protect their wallets and personal
information."
Scammers posing as utility representatives use a variety of
email, in-person and phone tactics to target families and
businesses to steal money. According to Hiya, a phone spam
protection company, utility scams grew 109 percent in 2016.
"In partnership with UUAS over the past six months, we've shut
down more than 500 toll-free numbers running utility scams, making
it more difficult for scammers to victimize customers of Duke
Energy and other participating utilities," said Joel Bernstein, vice president of regulatory and
public policy at Somos, which administrates toll-free numbers.
Common scam tactics
- Power disconnection threats: Customers may receive
threats to turn off electric service – usually in less than an hour
– if a large payment is not made.
- Immediate payment requests: Customers are asked to
quickly purchase a prepaid debit card and provide the card
information, which grants the scammer instant access to personal
funds. Some scammers may also request a money wire.
- Calls that appear to be from your utility: Scammers may
rig caller ID to make it look like the call is from a service
provider.
How to protect yourself
- We encourage customers who suspect a scam to hang up and call
Duke Energy immediately at the phone number listed on their bill,
followed by a call to the police. Never dial the phone number the
scammers provide.
- Do not pay over the phone if immediate payment is demanded to
avoid disconnection. Customers with delinquent accounts receive an
advance disconnection notification from Duke Energy with the
regular monthly billing – never a single notification an hour
before disconnection.
- Duke Energy never asks or requires a customer with a delinquent
account to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft,
mail or in person.
Duke Energy works closely with law enforcement and local
attorneys general and business organizations to denounce scams and
help protect communities.
For more information on how to spot a utility scam and protect
personal information, visit duke-energy.com/StopScams and watch our
"How to Spot a Scam" video.
Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding
companies in the United States.
Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves
approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the
Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and
Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to
approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business
unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across
the United States.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the
company is available at duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for
journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and
videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online
destination for stories about people, innovations, and community
and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and
insights into the future of energy.
About Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas, a North
Carolina corporation, is an energy services company whose
principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than
a million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation
customers in portions of North
Carolina, South Carolina
and Tennessee. Piedmont provides a foundation for
establishing a broader strategic natural gas infrastructure
platform within Duke Energy to supplement and complement the
previous natural gas pipeline investments and the natural gas
business located in the Midwest.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy