[Durham INC] FW: Duke Energy announces multi-market radio campaign to warn customers of ongoing utility payment scam

[Pat Carstensen]

The short version is that legitimate businesses do not want you going out to purchase pre-paid credit cards.
Regards, pat

From: Lynwood.Best at durhamnc.gov
To: pats1717 at hotmail.com
CC: Dhawkins913311 at gmail.com; Constance.Stancil at durhamnc.gov
Subject: Duke Energy announces multi-market radio campaign to warn customers of ongoing utility payment scam
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:08:31 +0000









Pat,
Please share with the members of InterNeighborhood Council.
Duke Energy announces multi-market radio campaign to warn customers of ongoing utility payment scam
Contact: Kristina Hill
Office: 980.373.2596
| 24-Hour: 800.559.3853
 
Aug. 19, 2013
Duke Energy announces multi-market radio campaign to warn customers of ongoing utility payment scam
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy today launched a radio campaign to educate the public about an ongoing payment scam, and what customers should do if targeted.
The educational messages will air in English across all six Duke Energy service areas, and also in Spanish in the Carolinas and Florida.
“Duke Energy is using as many channels as possible to educate customers about this scam,” said Gayle Lanier, Duke Energy senior vice president and chief customer officer.  “We urge customers who are contacted by individuals claiming to
 represent Duke Energy to listen for red flags, and hang up immediately if fraud is suspected.”

Lanier said the primary red flag used by these criminals is the insistence that customers pay with a prepaid debit card.

Here is how the scam works: 
A customer receives an unsolicited phone call from an individual who falsely claims to be a Duke Energy representative. The scammer warns that Duke Energy will disconnect the customer’s electric service if the customer fails to make an
 immediate payment – usually within one hour. 
The thief instructs the customer to purchase a prepaid debit card – widely available at retail stores – then call him or her back to supposedly make a payment to Duke Energy. The scammer asks the customer for the prepaid debit card’s
 receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card’s funds.
Some of these criminals have recently adopted new tactics, using caller ID spoofing to replicate Duke Energy’s customer service number, or falsely claiming to be with a third party collection agency representing Duke Energy.
They can also become aggressive when questioned about the legitimacy of their calls, and some specifically target Spanish-speaking customers, restaurants and other small businesses.

Important reminders for Duke Energy customers:
In reality, Duke Energy never asks or requires customers who have delinquent accounts to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid electric service disconnection. Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or
 in person.
Duke Energy customers who have delinquent accounts also receive notifications from the company over the course of several weeks prior to electric service disconnection – never just a single notification one hour before disconnection.
The company urges customers who suspect or experience fraud, or feel threatened during contact with one of these thieves, to hang up and call local police, then Duke Energy at one of the numbers below to report the call:
Ohio/Kentucky customers – 800-544-6900
Indiana customers – 800-521-2232
North Carolina/South Carolina customers (Duke Energy) – 800-777-9898
North Carolina/South Carolina customers (Duke Energy Progress) – 800-452-2777
Florida customers – 800-700-8744
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at:
www.duke-energy.com.  
 
 		 	   		  
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