NORMAN — One Norman family wants to warn others about a scam that happened Friday in central Norman.
Around 4:30 p.m. Friday, two men posing as OG&E workers visited an 91-year-old woman at her Norman home near Jackson Elementary School. The two men came in jumpsuits and hats, placed orange cones around their truck, showed up with equipment and put on a convincing act that they were OG&E workers.
While one of the men distracted the woman in her backyard, the other stole silver and heirlooms from the home. The woman said the incident happened within 20 to 25 minutes.
The woman’s granddaughter said neighbors identified the vehicle as a silver truck, possibly a Dodge. The men were described as a white male in his 20s and a Hispanic male in his 40s.
To combat these scams, OG&E spokeswoman Kathleen O’Shea said all OG&E employees carry photo identification badges that have to be worn at all times.
“If anybody comes and says they’re with us but can’t produce identification, lock your door and call 911,” O’Shea said, adding that if individuals say the ID was left at home, don’t trust them.
If at any time an OG&E employee asks a resident to look at trees that may be interfering with powerlines in their backyard, O’Shea said residents should lock the door, especially if there is more than one person there.
Employees also should have no reason to go into a customer’s house, she said.
“I know this kind of scam has happened before,” she said.
In the past, she said people posing as OG&E employees have tried to collect past due bills as well.
“We’re never going to send someone to your house to collect money,” O’Shea said.
The best way for residents to protect themselves from this type of scam is to ask to see the employee’s OG&E badge, she said.
Jessica Bruha
366-3540
jbruha@normantranscript.com
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