Police are once again asking residents to be suspicious of phone calls from people posing as B.C. Hydro employees as complaints continue to pour into the department.
Last November, New Westminster police issued a statement warning residents after the department received several reports alleging fraudsters were scamming people by posing as B.C. Hydro employees on the phone and threatening to cut the electricity if the individuals failed to pay their “outstanding” bills immediately.
Matt Green, co-owner of Greens and Beans Deli in Sapperton, received one of these fake B.C. Hydro calls. At the time of the initial warning, Green told The Recordhe knew right away something about the phone call didn’t feel right, especially since New Westminster has its own electrical company, so he hung up.
And that’s exactly what the New Westminster Police Department is asking people who get these phone calls to do – hang up and call B.C. Hydro to confirm if it was a legitimate phone call or not, stated a media release from police.
These fraudsters use threats to scare victims into paying hydro bills the callers claim are outstanding. If they refuse to pay, the fraudsters tell the person on the other line that their electricity will be shut off immediately, according to the release.
“The common theme in these situations is the caller demanding immediate payment via some sort of prepaid credit or gift card in which they request the number from the back of the card in order to complete the payment. Once the caller has the card number, the victim is advised that their payment is up to date and that they have avoided immediate disconnection of hydro services,” the release stated.
Residents are reminded that B.C. Hydro does not collect credit card or bank account information over the phone nor does it take payment in the form of cash gift cards, the release stated.
B.C. Hydro can be reached at 1-800-BCHYDRO or 1-800-224-9376.
Anyone who has been the victim of this scam or has received such a phone call is asked to contact the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.
