DTE Energy Warns Customers to Beware of Phone Scams Aimed at Identity Theft

DETROIT, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) and its
Detroit Edison and MichCon subsidiaries are warning customers to watch out for
telephone scams that are being used to obtain personal information about the
utilities' customers.
"DTE Energy has warned customers in the past about con artists who pose as
utility workers in order to gain access to homes and personal property," said
Michael Lynch, DTE Energy's director of corporate security. "Now we're
starting to see some new scams that utilize sophisticated telephone systems to
fraudulently obtain personal information from our customers."
In a recent telephone scheme, some Detroit area residents received
recorded phone messages, purportedly from DTE Energy, saying their utility
bill was overdue and their electric service would be disconnected. When the
residents called the toll-free "800" number provided on the message, they were
prompted to enter their name, address and social security number. The callers
were then informed that they had received the phone call in error, and that
everything was fine.
"This particular automated telephone system was very professional
sounding, and even included various menu options to help callers address the
alleged billing problem," Lynch said. "We were able to work with authorities
to shut down this phone number, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a similar
scam turn up again."
While DTE Energy does contact customers by phone for billing and marketing
purposes, Lynch said the company never uses computerized telephone calls to
obtain personal information from customers.
"Identity theft is a growing problem, and there are con artists out there
who are always looking for new ways to victimize innocent people," Lynch said.
"We want customers to know that if they receive a phone call claiming to be
from Detroit Edison or MichCon, and they want to verify the authenticity of
the call, they should contact DTE Energy at (800) 477-4747."
SOURCE DTE Energy

Len Singer, +1-313-235-8809, Lorie Kessler, +1-313-235-8807, both of DTE
Energy