MICHIGAN, USA — Utility companies are urging Michiganders to stay vigilant after two men posing as DTE employees killed a man and bound his wife with duct tape when the couple let the men into their home.
On Friday, Oct. 11, two men knocked on the door of a Rochester Hills home and appeared to be employees with DTE. Both men had safety vests and what appeared to be an official DTE form. The men had arrived in a white pickup truck with a DTE logo on the side.
The men said they were at the home to investigate a gas leak. Once the men were let into the home, they killed the man who owned the home and bound his wife with duct tape. The men allegedly stole some items from the home and left, according to authorities.
The two men were identified through the couple's doorbell camera and have since been taken into custody and charged.
Now, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is reminding Michiganders how they can protect themselves from someone posing as a utility worker or official.
“We’re heartbroken that criminals would do something so horrendous, and we want to help Michigan families stay safe from perpetrators who would take advantage of people by posing as workers for energy utilities,” MPSC Chair Dan Scripps said. “We urge everyone to learn ways to spot impostors and prevent them from putting you in danger.”
You're encouraged to follow these tips when verifying if someone at your door claims to be a utility employee:
- Utilities generally seek to contact customers in advance, by phone, email or text, before visiting a home. Utility employees will only rarely need to enter a home, but when it is necessary, utilities will try multiple ways to contact customers in advance to notify them of work that needs to be done.
- Utility employees are required to carry photo identification badges and show the badge when asked. A utility employee or contractor who refuses to show their badge should be refused entry.
- Ask the employee why they are there and, if in doubt, call your utility directly, using the customer phone number your utility includes on your bill, to confirm the visit is needed before allowing anyone entry or access to their property. Keep your door locked when making the call, and if you must speak to the person, do so without allowing them access to your home.
The MPSC said not all scams or attempts to get your information happen in person. If you receive a phone call claiming to be your utility company, you should know the following:
- Utility companies never call customers demanding immediate payment to keep service from being shut off. Customers will be notified of overdue balances and potential service disconnections through their monthly bill, while scammers will aggressively warn that a utility bill is past due, and service will be disconnected without immediate payment. They may ask you to pay through prepaid cards, gift cards, mobile payment apps, cryptocurrency or another unusual manner.
- Never give out your account numbers or personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number.
- If you suspect a call to be fraudulent, hang up and immediately call your utility at the telephone number on your bill and ask to speak with a customer service representative.
- If you’ve mistakenly provided bank account information, call your bank and local police department. Place an initial fraud alert on your credit report for at least 90 days.
You can file a complaint with the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division on their website here or by calling the Federal Trade Commission at 877-382-4357.
