West Chester business owner scammed out of $1,000

A business owner in West Chester, Ohio, lost nearly $1,000 to scammers posing as Duke Energy. Ghiovanna Dennis co-owns the Coterie Lounge & Cafe, which she opened in May 2024. She was already facing financial challenges when she received a call claiming she owed money for her electricity. During the call, the scammer told Dennis her electricity would be shut off unless she paid a large portion of the owed amount immediately. Believing the call was real, she panicked because she had an actual balance due. The scammers transferred her between callers, giving her false urgency to make the payment. Following their instructions, Dennis went to a local Walgreens to send cash. The scammers had provided an account number that was similar to her own. She didn’t suspect anything was wrong at the time. A week later, Dennis learned from Duke Energy that she had been scammed. Her electricity had been cut off, causing embarrassment in front of her customers. After discovering the truth, Dennis took to social media to ask for help, feeling that her hard work was at risk. Now wiser from the experience, Dennis advises others to hang up on unsolicited calls. Instead, she encourages people to call the business directly for confirmation. She is now seeking support through her cafe, encouraging the community to visit and make purchases. Duke Energy has commented on the situation and provided resources for customers to recognize and avoid such scams.