TULSA, Okla. (November 15, 2022) – Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) issued a utility scam warning to customers as Scams Awareness Day approaches.
PSO customers have reported scams or attempted scams 275 times so far this year, including 59 times in October. Those numbers are about the same as 2021 figures but well below comparable numbers in 2020.
Utilities United Against Scams, a consortium of 150 U.S. and Canadian utilities, has declared November 16 as Scams Awareness Day, and is urging consumers to be aware of common signs of scams, including:
- Demands for immediate payment,
- Threats to disconnect service immediately,
- Requests for a specific form of payment, such as a pre-paid debit card.
PSO personnel do not demand immediate payments, threaten immediate disconnects or accept pre-paid debit cards.
If you are suspicious of a caller claiming to be from PSO, hang up and call the PSO Customer Service Center: 1-833-PSO-POWR (776-7697).
“Scam artists are clever and persistent,” said PSO Director of Customer Services and Marketing Scott Ritz. “Consumer awareness is the most effective way to protect yourself from these thieves. Be careful. When in doubt, hang up and call us.”
About PSO
PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), is an electric utility company serving more than 568,000 customer accounts in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma, powering a cleaner, brighter energy future for its customers and 232 communities. Based in Tulsa, PSO has approximately 3,800 megawatts of diverse generating capacity that primarily includes wind and natural gas. It maintains and operates more than 24,000 miles of distribution lines and 3,700 miles of transmission lines and is one of the largest distributors of wind energy in the state. Find news releases and other information at www.PSOklahoma.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor and Instagram @PSOklahoma.
Media Contact:
Wayne Greene
PSO Corporate Communications
(918) 521-1474
lwgreene@aep.com