Fake Duke Energy outage texts target NC customers. How to protect yourself
Fraudsters are looking to dupe Duke Energy customers with phony texts.
The utility company, which services more than 4.7 millions residents across North Carolina, warned about fake texts circulating among customers Monday following a winter storm that left thousands without power.
“We are aware of a scam targeting utility customers claiming they will be impacted by a scheduled power outage,” the utility company said in a statement. “This message did not come from Duke Energy.”
The fake text tells customers to expect “scheduled rolling power outages” through Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to recent winter weather and directs them to a link with more information.
Duke Energy advised customers to avoid clicking on unfamiliar links and attachments. Instead, customers should contact the company directly with questions about their account, or to see the latest service updates.
“Duke Energy will communicate grid conditions through its official communication channels,” it said.
How to avoid getting scammed
Anyone can fall victim to a fraud or scam. To protect yourself, the NC Attorney General’s Office says always remember:
- Never share your Social Security number, bank account, credit card information, etc. with someone you don’t know.
- Walk away from high-pressure sales pitches.
- Avoid signing contracts or other paperwork until you’ve had a chance to read and understand it.
- Never pay upfront fees to get a loan or collect lottery/sweepstakes prizes.
- Don’t reply to letters or emails asking you to wire or transfer money to your bank account.
- Don’t cash checks you receive in the mail with a letter claiming you’ve won an “unexpected” surprise. It’s probably fake.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 11:12 AM.