Key Findings
Area code 405 (Oklahoma City) ranks #18 nationally with 51,410 FTC complaints from 20,907 unique scam numbers. ScamVerify™ analysis reveals Oklahoma's capital area code generates more complaints than area codes from cities twice its size, making it one of the most targeted mid-market area codes in the country.
Medical scams lead at 4,500 complaints, closely followed by government impersonation at 4,129. But the most distinctive Oklahoma City scam is a novel attack: scammers planted fraudulent OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric) phone numbers in Google search results, so when customers searched for "OG&E payment" and called the number shown, scammers answered and collected their bill payments. This attack vector, exploiting search result trust rather than caller ID spoofing, represents an evolution in utility fraud. AG Gentner Drummond is co-leading Operation Robocall Roundup Phase 2, targeting the four largest voice service providers in the country.
405 in the Oklahoma Context
Oklahoma has 4 area codes, and 405 dominates the state's scam landscape.
| Area Code | Region | Complaints | Numbers | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 405 | Oklahoma City | 51,410 | 20,907 | 70.5% | #18 |
| 918 | Tulsa | 29,165 | 11,936 | 75.2% | #144 |
| 580 | Western/Southern OK | 14,612 | 5,796 | 59.5% | #262 |
| 539 | Tulsa (overlay) | 7,921 | 3,050 | 52.3% | #312 |
| Oklahoma Total | 103,108 | 41,689 |
Oklahoma generates 103,108 total complaints from 4 area codes. The 405 code accounts for 49.9% of the state total from a single area code. The Tulsa overlay 539 has the lowest in-state targeting (52.3%), indicating it is used for out-of-state campaigns, while established 918 Tulsa has the highest (75.2%).
Oklahoma consumers filed 19,300+ fraud reports with the FTC in 2024 with $31.5 million in total losses.
Medical and Impersonation: A Dual Threat
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 4,500 | 63.6% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 4,129 | 64.9% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 2,793 | 78.3% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 821 | 58.3% |
| 5 | Home improvement and cleaning | 564 | 18.1% |
| 6 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 343 | 57.1% |
| 7 | Charities | 265 | 62.6% |
| 8 | Tech support | 225 | 59.6% |
Medical and impersonation are tightly clustered at the top (4,500 vs. 4,129), separated by just 371 complaints. Home improvement ranks #5 with 564 complaints at an 18.1% robocall rate, the lowest of any category, meaning virtually all home improvement scam calls in 405 use live operators.
The 63.6% robocall rate for medical scams and 64.9% for impersonation indicate that roughly a third of calls in each category use live operators, consistent with more sophisticated operations that engage victims in conversation.
The OG&E Google Payment Scam
In May 2025, OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric) warned customers about a novel scam: fraudulent phone numbers appearing in Google search results for queries like "OG&E bill payment" and "OG&E pay by phone." When customers called these numbers, scammers answered posing as OG&E representatives and collected bill payments.
This attack bypasses traditional caller ID spoofing entirely. Instead of calling victims, scammers wait for victims to call them, using the trust that Google search results carry. OG&E issued a public warning directing customers to use only the numbers listed on their official website or bill statements.
The broader utility scam category has 343 complaints for 405, but the Google payment scam represents a qualitatively different threat that is not captured in the FTC's standard complaint categories. AG Drummond's office has also warned about scammers impersonating the AG's office itself, telling victims they "won money" and must pay a fee to collect.
Scam Ring Infrastructure in 405
ScamVerify detected multiple organized number blocks within the 405 area code.
| Block | Numbers | Complaints | Avg/Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 405-266-8xxx | 36 | 244 | 6.8 |
| 405-267-6xxx | 40 | 234 | 5.9 |
| 405-335-1xxx | 34 | 180 | 5.3 |
| 405-233-9xxx | 21 | 177 | 8.4 |
| 405-577-1xxx | 24 | 134 | 5.6 |
Five identified blocks use 155 sequential numbers generating 969 combined complaints. The 405-233-9 block has the highest per-number average at 8.4, indicating concentrated operations. The 405-266-8 and 405-267-6 blocks together use 76 numbers from adjacent prefixes, suggesting a single operation acquiring number blocks in bulk.
Top 10 Most Reported 405 Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (405) 666-4792 | 116 | Debt reduction, mixed |
| 2 | (405) 548-2251 | 73 | Medical, debt, mixed |
| 3 | (405) 347-7525 | 58 | Impersonation, mixed |
| 4 | (405) 591-0796 | 58 | Mixed |
| 5 | (405) 233-9150 | 54 | Mixed |
| 6 | (405) 285-4344 | 50 | Medical (100%) |
| 7 | (405) 494-0529 | 45 | Impersonation (100%) |
| 8 | (405) 669-4572 | 44 | Mixed |
| 9 | (405) 677-0913 | 44 | Mixed |
| 10 | (405) 776-1354 | 42 | Medical (100%) |
(405) 285-4344, (405) 776-1354, and (405) 494-0529 are dedicated single-category scam lines: the first two at 100% medical, the third at 100% government impersonation. (405) 666-4792 leads with 116 complaints across multiple categories.
405 vs. Other Top Area Codes
| Area Code | Location | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 480 | Phoenix AZ | 57,243 | 2.7 | 71.1% | Medical |
| 405 | Oklahoma City | 51,410 | 2.5 | 70.5% | Medical |
| 520 | Tucson AZ | 51,032 | 2.7 | 63.1% | Debt |
| 512 | Austin TX | 51,155 | 2.5 | 80.5% | Medical |
Oklahoma City's 70.5% in-state targeting is comparable to Phoenix (71.1%) and higher than Tucson (63.1%), indicating 405 is primarily used for neighbor spoofing against Oklahoma residents rather than nationwide campaigns. The 2.5 complaints-per-number ratio is at the national average, unlike the elevated ratios seen in 202 DC (3.6) or 313 Detroit (3.1).
AG Drummond co-leads Operation Robocall Roundup Phase 2, targeting Inteliquent, Bandwidth, Lumen, and Peerless, which facilitated 3.4 billion scam calls since 2020. Phase 1 resulted in 13 companies removed from the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Database.
What Oklahomans Can Do
- Check any 405 number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. We have 20,907 known scam numbers in the 405 area code.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the OK AG at oklahoma.gov/oag or 1-833-681-1895.
- Never search Google for utility payment numbers. The OG&E Google scam shows that search results can be manipulated. Use only the phone number printed on your utility bill or navigate directly to oge.com.
- Be cautious of medical calls from 405. With 4,500 medical complaints, the 405 area code is a top target for Medicare and prescription scams. Medicare never calls unsolicited.
- The AG's office never calls about prizes. Scammers have impersonated the Oklahoma AG's office itself, claiming victims won money. No government office calls to collect fees for prize winnings.
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FAQ
Why does Oklahoma City's area code rank #18 nationally?
Area code 405 has 51,410 FTC complaints from a metro of approximately 1.4 million people, generating more complaints than area codes from larger cities. The 70.5% in-state targeting rate confirms scammers use 405 for neighbor spoofing against Oklahomans. Medical scams (4,500) and impersonation (4,129) are tightly clustered at the top, and five identified scam ring blocks use 155 sequential numbers.
What is the OG&E Google payment scam?
Scammers planted fraudulent OG&E phone numbers in Google search results. When Oklahoma customers searched for "OG&E bill payment" and called the displayed number, scammers answered posing as OG&E and collected payments. This bypasses caller ID spoofing by exploiting search engine trust. OG&E warns customers to use only numbers from their official website or bill statements.
What types of scams are most common from 405 numbers?
Medical and prescriptions lead at 4,500 complaints (63.6% robocall rate), followed by government impersonation at 4,129 (64.9%) and debt reduction at 2,793 (78.3%). Home improvement (564 complaints at 18.1% robocall) uses almost entirely live operators. The Oklahoma AG's own office has been impersonated by scammers claiming victims won prize money.
How does 405 compare to Oklahoma's other area codes?
405 OKC accounts for 49.9% of Oklahoma's total 103,108 complaints. 918 Tulsa follows with 29,165 complaints at 75.2% in-state targeting. 580 (59.5% in-state) and 539 Tulsa overlay (52.3%) show lower in-state rates indicating more out-of-state campaign usage.
How do I report a scam call in Oklahoma?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Oklahoma AG at oklahoma.gov/oag or 1-833-681-1895. AG Drummond co-leads Operation Robocall Roundup, the national multistate enforcement initiative. For OG&E utility scams, report directly to OG&E at 405-272-9741.
