BC Hydro says it has seen a 350 per cent increase in reported scams this month, when compared to March.
Since April 1, when the company launched its COVID-19 relief fund, BC Hydro said it has received reports of over 500 attempted scams targeting its customers.
Of particular concern, said the company, is the “increasing sophistication” of the scam operations.
BC Hydro said it is aware of two types of scams.
One of these is a phone and email scam, where customers receive automated calls or fake bill notification emails from someone pretending to be a BC Hydro employee. The fraudster threatens to disconnect service for an overdue bill. Customers are asked to call a 1-877 number to make a payment.
That number connects to a replica of BC Hydro’s phone system, and once connected, fraudsters ask a customer to purchase a pre-paid credit card or deposit money into a bitcoin ATM wallet to avoid a disconnection of service.
BC Hydro, however, has suspended all service disconnections for non-payment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The other type of scam is a phishing scam, where customers receive a text message that appears to be from BC Hydro, and indicates the customer is eligible for a refund.
Customers are then directed to click a link to submit their banking information so the “refund” can be deposited into their account via e-transfer.
BC Hydro said that, in addition to suspending service disconnections for non-payment, customers should know that it does not collect credit card or bank account information over the phone, by email or by text.
The company also does not accept payment from pre-paid cash or credit cards, or bitcoin ATM. It does not offer refunds or credits through Interac e-transfer.
Customers should call BC Hydro at 1-800-224-9376 or check their MyHydro account online if they doubt the authenticity of an email, text or phone call.
BC Hydro also said customers should report suspected fraud to their local police.
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