Salon owner loses $1,000 to scammer

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) — A salon owner said someone pretending to be a Duke Energy worker tricked him into giving up more than $1,000 dollars, and police said he is not the only victim.

At least two business owners in Columbus told police someone called them Wednesday and said they were a Duke Energy employee.

When the call came into the Studio Shag salon, stylist Shandra Burgess answered. The person on the other end said the salon hadn’t paid the power bill in three months.

The caller told Burgess if she didn’t pay immediately, Duke Energy would shut off the power in 45 minutes.

“I thought for sure that they were wrong but when they tell you they’re coming to shut the power off, you’re like no, wait, we have clients,” Burgess said.

Burgess said she called her boss, and gave up more than $1,000. He later realized he doesn’t owe Duke Energy anything.

“It’s stupid. I think they’re taking advantage of people. Get a job,” Burgess said.

When 24-Hour News 8 called the number on the salon’s caller ID, someone picked up saying they work for the Minnesota-based Xcel Energy Company.

An Xcel Energy spokesman said it was not a company phone number. When 24-Hour News 8 told that to the person on the other end, they hung up the phone.

Burgess said she called the number too.

“I won’t tell you what I said, but I called them back and yelled at them,” she said.

Indiana State Police said they’re investigating a string of similar calls in the Scott County area. In some of those cases, police said the caller ID read ‘Duke Energy.’

Police advised people to hang up the phone, look up the company’s number and call it if they’re at all suspicious.

Duke Energy said they’ve heard of a spike of people using their name for scams since the New Year.

A company spokesman said the scammer will typically instruct the customer to buy a prepaid debit card and provide the card information.