The Orlando Utilities Commission is warning customers of a scam after a 92-year-old woman was grabbed and robbed by someone posing as an OUC employee.

  • 92-year-old Orange County woman was victim of utility scammers
  • People came to her door posing as Orlando Utilities Commission workers
  • OUC now saying its workers will always be willing to provide ID

The invasion happened along North Hiawassee Road at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Investigators say a woman and a man posing as OUC employees came to the woman’s home demanding she allow them inside because they needed to do water tests.

“He came up and said, ‘Hello. We work for OUC and we got to check the water and we need you to turn the water on in the kitchen.’ I guess he was trying to get into the house to see what else I had, but he wasn’t going to get in,” Elizabeth Ring said Monday.

The charade didn't work on Ring, but the man persisted. He reached in and grabbed her.

“I was hitting him and holding on to my jewelry, because I’ve had those for years,” Ring said.

The man got away with one necklace and left Ring bruised before she called police.

“He got my nose and my lip. But you know, I just put stuff on it and they wanted to bring medics, but I told them I was fine,” Ring said.

Now the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is trying to figure out whether the people behind this utility and water scam may be the same people behind a similar scam.

In June, the Sheriff’s Office was asking for information regarding two men accused of pretending to work as lawn care specialists for Orange County. The men successfully distracted and robbed at least 10 residents over a couple of months.

Ring is concerned this won't be the last time the pair try to impersonate OUC workers and hopes they're caught soon.

“I hope they catch them, and I hope they take something they’ve got," Ring said.

Orlando Utilities Commission released a notice online saying anyone working for their company will always be willing to provide identification.

Anyone with more information about this scam or the scammers are urged to contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.