Beckham County, OK – Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning is warning residents to be on alert after reports of a phone scam involving local utility companies.

According to Sheriff Manning, the scammers are posing as representatives from area utilities and attempting to collect personal or financial information over the phone. “There’s a scam going around that’s mentioned one of our local utility companies,” Manning said. “They try to get you to give them your contact information, your banking information, your account information—anything they can.”

Manning stressed that legitimate utility companies, like the Sheriff’s Office, will never call customers to conduct business or request personal details. “We don’t call and try to do business over the phone,” he said. “Unless you’re talking to one of our investigators about a case and setting up a meeting in person, we’re not making those calls. Utility companies don’t do that either. They’ll send a bill in the mail—that’s how they do business.”

The Sheriff urged residents not to provide information to anyone who claims to represent a utility company over the phone. “Don’t be answering questions or giving out any of your information just because they say they’re with one of the utility companies around here,” Manning said. “Because it’s not them.”

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is encouraged to hang up immediately and contact the utility company directly using the number listed on their official website or bill.

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