The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office would like to warn the public about a phone related scam seeking to defraud people of money.

The scam, which was first reported June 30, pertains to unknown persons calling businesses and/or residences in Vernon County.  They are telling citizens their electric bills are overdue and they must pay using Western Union within 10 minutes, or their electricity will be disconnected.

A short time later, a technician calls and tells them he or she is 10 minutes out to disconnect their power.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the phone number used in this scam was 414-604-6743, which comes back to an automated response, a disconnection department in the Milwaukee area. This number is also connected to an 800 number in Nigeria.

These unknown persons have account numbers and balances for victims’ last billing statements.

It appears at this time that it pertains only to one electric company in Vernon County.

Sheriff John Spears urges the public to not give out any information to these callers, and do not send them any money by Western Union, or check.

Anyone receiving similar calls should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 608-637-2123 with any information or any phone numbers they may have.

This incident remains under investigation.