Tampa Electric warns of scammers using AI, fake websites to target utility customers
TAMPA, Fla. Tampa Electric and spokesperson Cherie Jacobs are sounding the alarm after a sharp rise in utility scams that use artificial intelligence, cloned websites and aggressive payment demands aimed at customers across the Tampa area; FOX 13 reporter Blake DeVine has been covering the trend and the utility is urging vigilance.
Scammers have stepped up the game, contacting people by phone, text, email and even showing up at homes while pretending to represent Tampa Electric. The scheme often mixes familiar pressure tactics with new tech tricks, and victims are being pushed toward fast, odd payment channels like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Tampa Electric says the pattern is especially dangerous as heat and higher bills make customers more anxious about shutoffs.
Cherie Jacobs, a Tampa Electric spokesperson, says the utility is fielding far more reports now than in previous years and that the scammers are crafting websites that look strikingly similar to the real thing. “Since 2024, we have seen a significant increase in the number of customers who’ve reported hearing from scammers or falling for scams,” Jacobs said. That rise means more people are getting calls that threaten immediate disconnection unless they pay up right away.
The fake websites are a key tool in the fraudsters’ kit, designed to steal login details or trick customers into entering payment information on an imposter page. “Instead of logging into the Tampa Electric site, they’re getting an imposter site that looks just like ours,” Jacobs said, and the false sense of legitimacy can be convincing. Even small differences on a page can be easy to miss when you’re worried about losing power or facing a late fee.
Tampa Electric stresses that its employees will never demand on-the-spot payments over the phone, a detail the utility repeats to cut through the panic these scams try to create. “We will never call you and demand immediate payment,” Jacobs said. “We will never demand a credit card or debit card.” That line is meant to give customers a clear rule of thumb when they get a threatening call or message.
Seniors and customers already behind on bills are especially at risk, according to Tampa Electric, because scammers rely on fear and urgency to force mistakes. Victims of utility fraud often lose hundreds of dollars, and those losses can be devastating for fixed-income households. The utility recommends slow, deliberate verification: ask for identification, confirm account details through official channels and never rush into payment arrangements suggested by a caller or a suspicious website.
Tampa Electric also reminds residents that all employees and contractors carry ID badges as part of standard procedure. “All TECO employees and contractors have to carry a badge,” Jacobs said. “So, ask to see their badge. If you’re still not comfortable, call Tampa Electric.” If someone shows up at your door or calls and you feel uneasy, hanging up and calling the utility back on its official number is a simple way to sort truth from scam.
If you suspect you’ve been targeted, Tampa Electric wants to know so investigators can track and stop these fraud rings, and local authorities can help victims recover losses where possible. Reporting suspicious activity quickly also helps warn others in the community and build a clearer picture of how scammers are operating. Keeping a cool head, checking IDs, and insisting on official channels for payments will blunt the most common tricks used right now.
