OG&E urges online bill payers to use caution

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. has announced it is getting complaints from some of its customers that they were scammed by thirdparty firms offering online bill payment services to the utility. The utility is urging its customers instead to pay their bills online only at oge.com. Here’s how it happens, according to company spokeswoman Kathleen O’Shea.

“Customers often search for ‘how to make OG&E payments’ using Web browsers such as Google, Bing and Yahoo," O'Shea said. Those results, she continued, frequently produce several links near the top that feature third-party bill-payment websites. Those companies, she noted, pay the browser services to post their links near the top of search results.They aren't affiliated with the utility, though, and unlawfully use the utility's name and logo to make it appear customers are paying OG&E directly. “By the time payments make their way to the customer’s OG&E bill, the account will likely have a late payment fee attached to it, and, in some cases, that may trigger a required additional deposit or even a cutoff notice,” O'Shea said.

While the spokesperson said utility officials said they are working with the browser services and those third-party firms to address the issue, she added OG&E also wanted to warn customers directly.

“The easiest way to avoid this scam if you like to pay your bill online is to go directly to oge.com and sign into your account to pay,” O’Shea said.

There are a number of ways customers may pay their OG&E bill, including the newest option, text to pay. Customers can find those methods on the company’s website at oge.com, “Ways to pay” under Billing & Payment Options.

Customers with questions should contact OG&E customer service at 800272-9741.