Criminals are taking advantage of the fear surrounding COVID-19 to pray on people at their most vulnerable. DTE has seen an increase in scam artists targeting customers, claiming to be a representative from the company and asking for sensitive information or immediate payment. Other new scams include criminals using text messages claiming someone you came in contact with tested positive for COVID-19 (
read more about this scam here.)
Watch for the red flags of a scam:
Someone asks for your DTE account number
DTE Energy DOES NOT ask customers to provide their account numbers. We only ask to validate information such as zip code, or last four digits of your Social Security number to protect our customers' private information. Plus, DTE Energy DOES NOT call for payment if the account is in good standing. If a customer is behind on payments, DTE will mail a warning notice.
Bullying
Alarm bells should ring when someone calls and says a crew is on the way to shut off service unless there's an immediate payment. The more aggressive the caller, the more skeptical you should be.
Demanding a specific form of payment
DTE Energy does not demand a specific form of payment. In fact, we provide a variety of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, bank/ACH transfers and more. If a caller insists on payment via a prepaid debit card — especially a specific brand of prepaid card — it is a scam.
DO NOT trust your caller ID.
Scammers are using caller ID spoofing to make the call appear to originate from DTE Energy. Ask for identification. Pull out your most recent DTE Energy bill and ask the caller to tell you the account number and the amount due. A scammer will usually be unable to do so.
If you suspect you have been fraudulently contacted, call
800.477.4747 to speak with a customer service representative who can confirm the status of your account and make appropriate arrangements for payment, if needed. If you believe your identity or data may be compromised, call your local police, take advantage of free credit reporting, watch for new accounts opened in your name and report any unusual activity to DTE immediately.