INDIANAPOLIS — 'Tis the season for scammers.
Indiana utility companies are warning customers to stay alert.
From phone calls to text messages and emails, scammers are finding new ways to get unsuspecting utility customers to hand over their hard-earned cash.
"It hurts my heart to hear when scammers are preying on our customers, because we want to protect them as well," said Kelly Young with AES Indiana.
Young said during the holidays, scams spike at utility companies around the United States.
"Scammers have become very sophisticated not only with technology, so they're able to use numbers that appears as if they're coming from a utility," said Young.
They often target the most vulnerable or show up at your home.
"(They) may have scanned our logo onto a sheet of paper and claim to be an AES employee," said Young.
Customers should watch out for the following scams.
- Threat to disconnect: Scammers may demand immediate payment saying you have a past due bill.
- Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say the utility company over billed you and owes you a refund, or you are entitled to a rebate.
- Request for immediate payment: They may tell you to make a payment or purchase a prepaid card and then call them back to make a bill payment.
According to Duke Energy, so far this year, more than 77,000 scam attempts have been reported.
There were 150,000 scam attempts during the same time period in 2022.
The Better Business Bureau found that of those who were victims of a utility scam lost an average of $327.
"Trust your gut. If it doesn't feel right, hang up and call us and we'll listen to you and report the situation and make sure that you're safe," Young advised.
Utility companies will never ask for personal information, tell you how to make a payment or threaten to immediately cut off your service.