MARTIN CO. — The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new, aggressive phone scam in which an individual impersonates a Duke Energy employee to steal money.
Authorities report that a man is calling residents and falsely claiming that the victim’s Duke Energy account is past due and that payment must be made immediately to avoid an imminent service shutoff.
The scammer uses tactics designed to create panic and prevent the victim from verifying the claim, even falsely stating he is “waiting in the customer’s driveway” for the payment.
How to Avoid Falling Victim
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office and Duke Energy officials stress that this is a classic utility scam technique. Duke Energy will never call and threaten immediate disconnection or demand a specific type of payment, such as a gift card, over the phone.
If you receive such a call, take the following steps:
- Hang Up Immediately: Do not provide any personal or financial information.
- Do Not Pay or Purchase Gift Cards: Utility companies do not accept payment via gift cards (such as Green Dot, iTunes, or others), digital payment apps (like Zelle or Venmo), or prepaid debit cards to prevent disconnection.
- Verify Directly: If you are concerned about your account status, hang up and call Duke Energy directly using the phone number listed on your most recent bill or the company’s official website (800-521-2232 for Indiana customers). Do not use a number provided by the suspicious caller.
Residents are urged to warn friends, family, and especially elderly neighbors about this active scam. If you feel physically threatened, call 911 immediately, and report the scam attempt to local law enforcement.
