This May, Duke Energy reported that it's facing an increasing number of scammers seeking bill payment from customers, according to Angeline Protogere, a spokeswoman for the company. The scammers are even calling from a number that appears to be Duke's customer service line and threatening to cut off electricity.

But Duke is not alone. Utilities across the U.S. have blasted warnings about the scams, likely to increase this summer as criminals look to cash-in on higher bill payments.

Now, here's a recap of scams making the news and the people and utilities affected. 

1. Scammers target restaurants
Where: Spartanburg, S.C.
Utility affected: Duke Energy

This May, the Spartanburg, South Carolina police are investigating two recent incidents. Last Thursday, scammers convinced the owner of Japan House restaurant to buy two prepaid bank cards and pay $950 for his electricity bill. The owner then called his utility, Duke Energy, and realized he was scammed. The very next day, scammers tried to convince an employee at Fuji restaurant that the company was behind on bills and threatened to cut electricity. But the employee didn’t bite the bait and called the police. When police dialed the scammer’s number, a man picked up saying “Duke Energy.”

2. Knock, knock... meter scam
Where: Galloway Township, N.J.
Utility affected: Atlantic City Electric

A live, in-person scam recently involved a customer in New Jersey. A man posing as a utility worker  with Atlantic City Electric arrived at a woman’s house and asked for $45 for resetting her meter. “Police say the woman refused and asked for identification... the man told her he would come back later and rip her meter off of her house if she didn't comply," NBC40 reported. The scammer did not return, but he likely pulled the same trick in the neighboring Egg Harbor City, police say. Residents in both cities described the suspect as a white man driving a dark colored pick-up truck.

3. The scam stops here
Where: Jefferson City, Mo.
Utility affected: Ameren Missouri

One Ameren Missouri customer got a scam call at her business. “The caller said her account was delinquent and she had to pay immediately over the phone. She became suspicious and hung up,” KFVS12 reported.

4. Over-achieving scammers
Where: Joplin, Mo.
Utility affected: The Empire District Electric Co.

In a three-day blitz earlier this May, bill-pay scammers targeted at least 10 customers of the Empire District Electric Co. The utility provides electricity in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. "The caller claims to be a utility employee asking for payment on a past due bill. The scam artist will tell the customer to buy a prepaid credit card and then call them back with the card number to avoid service interruption."

Would you like to see more utility and energy news like this in your inbox on a daily basis? Subscribe to our Utility Dive email newsletter! You may also want to read Utility Dive's look at demand response and what the future holds for utilities.