A phone scam going around involving Duke Energy could take a chunk of cash out of your bank account this holiday season, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office warns.
The phone number that calls unsuspecting people is 877-353-3958 with the caller ID of Duke Energy, deputies say. Someone on the line claims to work for the utility company.
Upon answering, the sheriff office says the caller walks the person through to avoid the power going off while knowing the address and name on the account.
Pasco deputies tried it themselves: They called the number and were told they owed around $400. The person on the line told them to go to CVS or 7-11 to get a payment card and wait for a "Mr. Robinson" to call back and ask for the numbers on the back of the card.
"Obviously, no reputable company would attempt such a roundabout way to receive payment. If you receive such a call from any company, hang up and contact your local law enforcement agency," the Pasco County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook."
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