The Oklahoma Corporation Commission and Oklahoma Gas and Electric are warning Oklahomans about a sophisticated phone scam that is targeting utility customers.
According to the Corporation Commission, the scam begins with a realistic sounding phone call warning of an overdue payment. A callback number is provided. When called, it plays back the actual greeting used by OG&E. The customer is then transferred to a customer service person who gets a credit card number.
The situation is being investigated by the Corporation Commission’s Public Utility Division. The division director says the scammers know how to trick people by sounding like the utility.
“We spoke to these fake ‘customer service’ reps as part of our investigation. They even knew the location of OG&E headquarters,” Director Brandy Wreath said. “The tip-off is that they will ask for the last four digits of your account number, and for a credit card number. Real utilities already have your account number, and any initial contact regarding past due accounts is done by mail.”
The Public Utility Division monitors social media to seek out consumer scams and deceptive practices to help protect consumers. Wreath says for this particular scam, it appears the scammers have moved on, apparently concerned over the attention given them by the PUD investigation.
“The greeting on the number now is not the OG&E greeting, but rather that of an out-of-state utility. But there’s no doubt they may try again in Oklahoma using another utility name.”
