Duke Energy wans of scheme in wake of Hurricane Irma

Company says scammers claim customers' bills are paid

Power meter.

TAMPA, Fla. – Duke Energy customers are warning others of what they say are text messages from scammers claiming to pay electric bills.

In reality, Duke told CBS affiliate WTSP-TV that the scheme is an effort to steal customers' identities.

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Amy Clark, of Tampa, said she got a text message over the weekend. The message claimed her bill would be paid if she followed a few simple steps: Go to Duke's website, put in a routing number and enter your Social Security number.

Clark said it's the last step that raised a red flag in her mind. 

"Ridiculous," Clark said. "We work all week to get what we get, to earn all we have, and then people sit there all day worrying how to scam people."

Duke said in a statement that the company "does not solicit personal information from customers."