<p><strong>REMINDER OF SCAMERS AND ACTION TO TAKE</strong></p>
<p>A resident and business owner from Lake Lure received a call this morning from a man who stated his name was "James" and he was calling from Duke Energy. He stated that the resident had not paid her bill and that the account was getting ready to be shut off. The resident began questioning "James". He offered to get his supervisor on the phone whom he stated was "Michael Wilkins". When the resident began to question him further into which accounts were delinquent, he hung up.</p>
<p>The resident quickly called Duke Energy and confirmed that the call was a scam, then called the Lake Lure Police Department to report the caller and the phone number he was calling from.</p>
<p>While most scams generate from outside the United States, it's important to know that the phone number they call from may show as a number from within the states. This is a "linking" of phones which allows the generation of the USA phone number. It's important to also remember to not give out information regarding your bank account number or your credit card numbers and never allow a caller to link into your computer system to "assist" you in makng a payment.</p>
<p>Some scammers become threatening and loud, trying to intimidate you, and sadly this sometimes works. We have unfortunately had several residents who have lost thousands and thousand of dollars only to find out they had been scammed.</p>
<p><strong>Red flags for scam activity</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The thief becomes angry and tells the customer his or her account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment isn’t made – usually within less than an hour.</li>
<li>The thief instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card – widely available at retail stores – then call him or her back to supposedly make a payment to Duke Energy.</li>
<li>The scammer asks the customer for the prepaid card’s receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card’s funds.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How to protect yourself</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<div>Duke Energy never asks or requires a customer with a delinquent account to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification with the regular monthly billing – never a single notification one hour before disconnection.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, hang up and call the local police then Duke Energy. Never dial the phone number the scammers provide.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Customers who suspect or experience fraud, or feel threatened during contact with one of these thieves, should contact local authorities, and then the Duke Energy phone number listed on their bill.</p>
