NORTH CAROLINA — Scam text messages impersonating trusted agencies and utility providers are circulating across North Carolina, with Duke Energy issuing a warning about a new message falsely claiming customers will be affected by a scheduled power outage.
Duke Energy alerted customers through a post on social media after becoming aware of the message.
“We are aware of a scam targeting utility customers claiming they will be impacted by a scheduled power outage,” read the post. “This message did not come from Duke Energy. Customers should avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from businesses or individuals they do not know, and they should contact Duke Energy directly to discuss their account or visit company communications channels for the latest updates.”
Duke Energy stated that it communicates grid conditions and service updates only through its official communication channels.
The warning comes as residents across the state continue to report a surge in scam text messages impersonating the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. Earlier this month, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office warned residents about fraudulent messages claiming recipients have outstanding traffic violations and face enforcement if payment is not made by a specific deadline.
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has previously warned residents about similar scams. Last year, the agency issued an alert regarding a surge in fraudulent text messages requesting payments for fees, fines or tolls that appeared to come from the NCDMV.
“NCDMV does not and will never request payments via text message,” said NCDMV in a press release last June.