Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and the Better Business Bureau are collaborating with Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) for the 10th annual Utility Scam Awareness Day on November 19. This initiative aims to educate customers about how to identify and prevent utility scams.
Throughout 2025, Duke Energy has received nearly 3,000 scam reports in the Carolinas by the end of October. Across all Duke Energy service areas, there have been more than 5,600 scam reports this year.
Utility Scam Awareness Day has operated for a decade with the goal of helping customers protect their money and personal information from scammers. Customers are encouraged to pause if they receive urgent or suspicious payment requests, verify using official contact information from their bills or company websites, and report any questionable activity to their utility provider or law enforcement.
Scammers often pressure individuals for immediate payments or threaten service disconnection—actions that Duke Energy says it will never take. Additionally, requests for payment through prepaid cards or cryptocurrency are considered warning signs since these methods are not accepted by the company.
Jessica Bishop, senior vice president of Customer Services Operations at Duke Energy, stated: “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 at Duke Energy 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 of the Better Business Bureau noted: “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.”
Customers can use resources such as Duke Energy’s Scam Reporting Tool (https://www.duke-energy.com/customer-service/report-fraud-or-scams), Scams & Fraud – Piedmont Natural Gas (https://www.piedmontng.com/for-your-home/customer-service/scams-and-fraud), or Scam Tracker – Better Business Bureau (https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker) to check or report scams. Additional tips can be found at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice page (https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts).
Duke Energy serves 8.6 million electric customers across six states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky while its natural gas utilities reach 1.7 million customers in five states.
Utilities United Against Scams is a consortium comprising over 150 utilities in the U.S. and Canada sharing data and best practices aimed at protecting customers from fraudulent activities.
More details about Duke Energy can be found on their official website (https://www.duke-energy.com/) as well as on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
