How Western Oklahoma Became a Target—and How to Fight Back
I was in the diner the other day, two tables over from a group of old-timers solving the world’s problems over meatloaf and iced tea. One of them chuckled, “Well, I guess my PikePass bill is past due again—got three texts about it this morning.” Another shot back, “That’s nothing. My car warranty’s been expiring since 2019.”
Laughter all around. These guys had seen enough to know a scam when they saw one—or so they thought.
The truth is, these messages are everywhere. Some are obvious jokes, sure. But others? They’re sharper, more convincing, and they’re hitting folks who never thought they’d fall for anything. In 2023, Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And it’s not just big-city folks getting tricked. These scams are popping up right here—in Sayre, in Erick, in Elk City. They’re on our phones, in our inboxes, and sometimes, in our very own voices.
Here are ten of the biggest scams sweeping across western Oklahoma—how they work, and how to keep from getting fooled.
1. The Plastic Promise: Gift Cards as Ransom It started with a phone call at 6:03 p.m., just as Rita was pulling cornbread from the oven. The voice on the line was calm, polite, official-sounding. Said they were with OG&E and that her last payment had bounced.
“We sent two notices,” he said, “but this is your final warning. A technician is already en route. If you don’t make payment in the next 15 minutes, your power will be disconnected.”
Rita panicked. Her husband was recovering from surgery, and the oxygen machine couldn’t run without power. She didn’t want to cause a scene—but she didn’t want to risk it either.
“How do I pay?” she asked. “Gift cards,” the man replied, smoothly. “We accept Apple, Target, or Amazon. There’s a CVS on 7th, right?”
It wasn’t until she’d scratched the silver foil off the back of the cards and read the numbers aloud that something felt… off.
She wasn’t behind on her bill. And that wasn’t OG&E.
Scammers love gift cards. They’re instant. Untraceable. Nearly impossible to recover once the code is out. The playbook is always the same: urgency, pressure, impersonation. They don’t need you to be gullible— just flustered, rushed, or scared.
So here’s your rule: If someone asks you to pay with a gift card, it’s a scam. Every time.
Hang up. Block the number. And if you already paid? Call the number on the back of the card and report it. Some companies— especially Apple and Google—can freeze the balance if you’re fast.
2. The Phantom Toll: A Pike-Pass You Never Missed Calvin was headed into the Sayre post office when his phone lit up with a text: “Unpaid toll: $74.36. Click link to resolve and avoid penalties.”
He didn’t even have PikePass. Five minutes later, his sister texted: “Hey, did you get that weird toll message?”
Scammers have gotten creative with these fake PikePass or Turnpike Authority alerts. The links look real. The messages come with urgency and the kind of official tone that catches people off guard.
But it’s not PikePass. And it’s not about a toll. It’s phishing— meant to steal your info or infect your phone.
Never click links from texts like these. Go directly to the PikePass website or your account if you’re unsure. And if you don’t even have PikePass? Smile and delete.
3. The Voice You Raised… But Didn’t Call You A woman in western Oklahoma got a call from what sounded exactly like her grandson. He was scared, crying, and said he’d been in a wreck. He begged her not to tell his parents.
She almost sent the money.
But she paused—and called him directly.
He was fine. No accident. No hospital. Just a scammer using AI to mimic his voice.
With today’s tools, it only takes a few seconds of video or voicemail to clone a voice. Add a sense of urgency, and it’s easy to panic.
Use a family code word. Talk to your kids and grandkids. Remind them that if something seems off, you’ll always double- check. And if someone’s voice sounds a little too perfect over the phone? Hang up and call the real person directly.
4. The Rental That Wasn’t: Facebook’s Favorite Fraud You’re scrolling through Marketplace, half-looking, half-dreaming. Then it hits you—clean little farmhouse, fenced yard, dogs allowed, cheap rent, and it’s available now. You message. The “owner” replies fast. He’s out of town, can’t show it, but says if you Venmo the deposit, he’ll mail the key.
Feels a little sketchy… but what if it’s real?
It’s not. These scammers copy real listings—sometimes from Zillow, sometimes from a realtor’s page—and post them under different names. A woman in Elk City was nearly caught last year. She asked to see the inside. “Sorry, can’t do that right now,” the guy texted. She didn’t bite. Good thing.
Never pay for a place you haven’t walked through with your own boots. If they won’t meet you, move on. Ask for a phone number, business card, or lease copy—anything real. And if it sounds too good to be true in this market? You already know. 5. Lights Out Lies: The Fake Utility Call This one hits when it’s 103 degrees out and your A/C is the only thing between you and a stroke.
You get a call. The guy says he’s with OG&E or PSO. Claims your last payment didn’t go through, and a truck’s already en route to disconnect your service. But—lucky you— if you pay now over the phone, he can cancel it.
They’ll even stay on the line while you “run to get your wallet.”
Here’s the truth: No real utility company cuts you off like that. Not without paper notices, calls, and time. And none of them ask for gift cards, Zelle, or Venmo.
Hang up. Then call the number on your last legit bill to double check. Scammers thrive on panic. Your calm is their kryptonite.
6. Good Standing, Bad Intentions: The Business Mail Trap If you’ve started a business recently, chances are good you’ve gotten one of these: An official-looking letter. A bold headline. Something about needing a “Certificate of Good Standing” to remain compliant. The price? $144.
Looks legit. Even sounds urgent.
But in Oklahoma? That certifi cate costs about $20, and most small businesses will never need one unless they’re expanding into another state or filing for specific licenses.
The scammers behind these letters aren’t breaking laws. They’re just counting on you not knowing better. They scrape public filings and send a polished pitch—hoping you’ll pay to stay out of trouble.
Before you do? Call the Oklahoma Secretary of State. Or go online and check what’s actually required. Business ownership is stressful enough. You shouldn’t have to fight off paper pirates too.
7. Deadline Deception: The REAL ID Racket You get an email or a text saying your license isn’t Real ID compliant. They offer a link to fix it fast. Just upload your license info, birthday, and maybe a bank card. Easy, right?
Except the DMV doesn’t work that way. And neither does Oklahoma.
These scammers are counting on confusion around the upcoming May 2025 Real ID deadline. They’re hoping you’ll rush through the process and hand them everything they need to clean out your account.
You can’t get a Real ID online. Period. You’ve got to go in, in person, with documents in hand.
Check your eligibility and requirements at okrealid.gov or call your local tag agency. And if a text message says you can do it from your couch? Delete it.
8. You’ve Just Won a Scam: Fake Sweepstakes Calls “Congratulations! You’ve won ten million dollars and a brand-new truck!”
All you need to do is pay a small processing fee, or taxes, or insurance, or postage… Real sweepstakes don’t work this way. And Publishers Clearing House will never ask for money up front. But scammers do—because it works. Hope has a way of quieting doubt.
If you didn’t enter it, you didn’t win it. And if someone asks for payment before they send you a prize, you’re not getting a prize. You’re getting played.
9. The Wolf in a Dating App: Pig Butchering Scams He called her ‘Angel’ and said her smile reminded him of spring in Taiwan. They met on a dating app. He was charming, patient, and always had time for her.
After a few weeks, he introduced her to cryptocurrency. Told her about a private app. She invested. It grew. She sent more.
Then she tried to cash out. The app froze. The money vanished. And so did he.
This is pig butchering—longterm emotional scams that lure victims into fake investments. The scammers are trained to romance, reassure, and fleece you blind.
If someone you’ve never met asks you to invest in anything, don’t. And if they won’t video chat, meet in person, or stop asking for money? Block and walk.
10. Voices of Deception: Deepfakes in Your Bank Account It sounded just like his son. Same crack in the voice, same awkward pause. He was stuck overseas, needed a wire transfer fast.
But his son was at work in Tulsa. Hadn’t called. Wasn’t overseas.
With AI voice tech getting sharper, scammers can use voicemail recordings or Tik-Toks to mimic your voice—or your kid’s. They’re using it to fool loved ones, banks, and even customer service hotlines.
Set up family code words. Use two-factor authentication on all accounts. And remember: your voice may not be your password anymore.
Slow down. Verify. Trust your gut.
