DON’T FALL VICTIM TO UTILITY BILL SCAMS
- If a caller specifically asks you to pay by prepaid debit card, this is a red flag. Prepaid debit cards are like cash and the transactions cannot be reversed.
- If you feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the number on your utility bill. This will ensure you are speaking to a real representative.
Source: Duke Energy
A scammer claiming to represent Duke Energy has tried to defraud at least one Hamilton utility customer, claiming she owed unpaid utility bills. The practice also is happening beyond Hamilton’s borders, as scammers try to get unwitting people to make payments.
"Although the customer replied that she received service from Hamilton utilities, the caller insisted on payment to avoid disconnection of service," according to a news release from the city. "Such calls are a telephone scam, attempting to unlawfully collect money and personal information. Similar telephone scams were reported locally in recent years."
According to the city’s utilities business manager, Nathan Perry, “Duke Energy does not seek payment from or disconnect Hamilton utilities customers. If a customer receives such a call seeking payment to avoid service disconnection, they should hang up and report the incident to the Hamilton Police Department immediately.”
Duke also has noticed an increase in such scam attempts lately, said Sally Thelen, spokeswoman for that utility.
“In the past few weeks we’ve seen this scam pop back up with some of our Ohio customers. Fortunately, most are becoming wise to the tactics,” Thelen said.
The trend is a growing one: Complaints about such scams doubled in 2015 over 2014. Fortunately, public-education campaigns have made people more alert to scams, Thelen said.
Here are Duke’s recommendations on what to do: If you feel something’s not quite right about the situation, contact the company immediately at 800-544-6900.
Also, call your local police immediately and report the call if you believe it was an impostor.
Here’s another way in Hamilton to tell if it’s a scam: “Hamilton Utilities does not randomly call customers to demand payment,” said utility Customer Service Administrator Marie Hibbard. “The City does make courtesy calls to remind customers of potential service disconnection but only after providing prior notice through billing statements and door hangers. Customer service representatives do not request personal information during such courtesy calls.”
The city encourages customers to contact its utility Customer Service Division at 513-785-7100 or visit its office on the first floor of the Hamilton Municipal Building, 345 High Street, with any questions about their accounts.
Hamilton detectives are investigating the telephone scam. City residents who suspect someone has tried to scam them should contact police dispatchers at 513-785-1300.
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