TRAVELERS REST, SC (FOX Carolina) – Travelers Rest Police are warning residents about a scam targeting Duke Energy customers.
Officials report scammers are calling Duke Energy customers claiming they are months behind on their electricity payments. Victims are advised to pay through a payment service called Green Dot, officials said.
Police report that the repayment demands are in the thousands and that the scammers give victims a reference number, which they then give to an employee during the transaction. It is almost impossible to get the money back unless the victims request a stop payment immediately after the transaction, police say.
Officials said the scammers use the phone number (888) 494-4940. Investigators report that when they called that number, they heard a genuine-sounding menu of choices that can easily be confused with Duke Energy’s actual customer service number.
Travelers Rest Police would like to remind residents that businesses are contacting customers with overdue bills by mail rather than by phone. They also are not requesting payment through payment services or gift cards.
Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam is asked to call Sergeant Adam Bradshaw with the Travelers Rest Police Department at 864-365-9822.
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