The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office is sending out this Consumer Fraud Alert after being contacted this morning by the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative of a scam being perpetrated on their Baxter County customers.

     According to a representative with NAEC, some of their customers in Baxter County have today been receiving telephone calls from a person purporting to be a representative of NAEC.  The caller informs NAEC customers that their electric bills are overdue and must be paid immediately by credit card over the phone in order to avoid interruption in electric service.

     These calls are NOT coming from North Arkansas Electric Cooperative.  They are being made by unknown third party callers who attempt to obtain credit card or other personal information from unsuspecting members of the public.

     The Sheriff’s Office is urging to public to avoid becoming victims of fraudulent scams by refusing to provide credit card or any personal identifying information to unverified and unconfirmed sources. 

     Persons needing to obtain their NAEC account information with respect to payments or other purposes can call North Arkansas Electric Cooperative in Mountain Home at (870) 425-2141.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff