DTE Energy customers targeted by criminals

A Rochester Hills woman on Monday, February 19, discovered she was the victim of identity theft when she was notified by DTE Energy that someone had opened an account in her name.

The woman told Oakland County sheriff's deputies that she attempted to activate utility services in her name at her daughter's apartment when the provider told her she had a balance of $1,045 for an existing account. The 41-year-old victim told authorities she never opened the delinquent account, nor had she authorized it.

Police in Rochester notified residents in late January via the department's Facebook account of a new phone scam from crooks pretending to be from DTE Energy threatening to cut off service. The scam, however, doesn't typically involve the theft of personal information.

DTE Energy said impostors will often tell victims they must make payment by using a Green Dot card or prepaid debit card. Once the customer provides the card number, the funds are transferred to an untraceable account.

Customers who are uncertain about a caller claiming to be DTE Energy are advised to contact DTE at 800.477.4747.