FERNDALE, Mich. – A scam alert is exposing a troubling crime trend in one suburban community.
According to authorities, a man is posing as a DTE Energy employee and a general contractor in order to rip off the elderly.
Related: Michigan AG warns residents to watch out for DTE Energy imposter scams
Ferndale police want residents to be on high alert.
It starts with a knock at the door. The man at the door says he’s either with DTE or he’s posed as a contractor.
In the case of the DTE story, he claims your bill is overdue and that you need to pay it now or you lose your power.
DTE Energy does not demand in person cash payments and scams like this one have been a problem for years.
Related: DTE Energy warning residents of imposter claiming to be worker, coming to homes
Anytime an employee is on your doorstep, ask for their ID. If you have any questions, call DTE Energy directly.
In another instance, a man approached an elderly man in Ferndale and offered to repair his porch. He demanded $1,000 right away, drove the man to the victim to his bank, got the cash and vanished.
The suspect is a white man, between 30-40 years old. Police said he’s known to drive a white truck and poses as a utility worker or a general contractor.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ferndale Police Department at 248-541-3650.
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