Over 5,600 scam reports have been recorded across Duke Energy’s service areas in 2025, as the company and its partners mark the 10th annual Utility Scam Awareness Day on November 19. The initiative is part of an ongoing effort by Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), working with Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), to educate customers about recognizing and reporting scams.
Since its inception a decade ago, Utility Scam Awareness Day has focused on helping customers protect their finances and personal information from fraudulent schemes. This year alone, Duke Energy received nearly 3,000 scam reports in the Carolinas through October.
Customers are encouraged to follow three steps: slow down if a payment request seems suspicious or urgent; verify requests using official contact information from their bills; and report any questionable interactions to their utility provider or law enforcement. Reporting tools are available via Duke Energy’s Scam Reporting Tool, Piedmont Natural Gas’s fraud page, and BBB’s Scam Tracker.
Scammers often demand immediate payments or threaten service cut-off—actions that utilities say they will never take. They may also ask for payment via prepaid cards or cryptocurrency methods not accepted by these companies. Impersonation of utility representatives and false refund promises for personal information are additional tactics used.
Jessica Bishop, senior vice president of Customer Services Operations at Duke Energy said: “Scammers change scripts; our guidance doesn’t: We don’t threaten instant shutoff, and we don’t dictate how you pay. If you hear either, stop and verify with us directly.”
Brian Weisker, senior vice president and president of Piedmont Natural Gas added: “Our promise is simple: clear natural gas bills, secure payment channels, and support when something feels off. We urge everyone to stay vigilant, verify before you pay, and contact us right away whenever concerns arise.”
Juliana O’Rork, vice president of marketing at BBB stated: “Scammers are willing to try anything to steal your money and/or your identity. Pressure, secrecy and odd payment methods are the tells. At BBB, we strive to provide consumers and businesses with as much information as possible about scams that have been reported to us via BBB Scam Tracker.”
Duke Energy serves more than 8 million electric customers across six states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky while owning over 55 gigawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities reach approximately 1.7 million customers in several states.
Piedmont Natural Gas distributes natural gas services to more than one million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The Better Business Bureau provides business profiles on millions of companies each year through its website BBB.org which had over 220 million visits in 2024 alone for business checks.
Utilities United Against Scams comprises over 150 utilities from the U.S. and Canada sharing data on scam prevention strategies.
