VANCOUVER – It appears that the ‘BC Hydro payment scam’ has come to Delta.
Police are warning the public, especially small business owners, to be careful after several small businesses were targeted this week by scammers claiming to be from BC Hydro.
In all cases, the scammers called the businesses and told the person on the phone that they were from BC Hydro and they owed thousands of dollars in outstanding bills. They were also told if they did not pay, their power would be cut off within the hour.
The victims were told to purchase a PayPower credit card (prepaid credit card) in the amount of their debt and then give the card numbers to to the suspects. They were even told that they had their BC Hydro account number, payment history and other details that appeared to legitimize the claim.
READ MORE” ‘BC Hydro’ payment scam in Coquitlam
Police want to warn businesses that BC Hydro will never ask for payment in the form of a prepaid credit or debit or cash card.
If you are ever in doubt about the legitimacy of someone phoning you, you can protect yourself by getting the name of the person on the phone, hanging up, and then calling the business back from a phone number you have looked up yourself from a trusted source.
BC Hydro customers are asked to report these calls by calling 1 800 BC HYDRO, their local police department and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1 888 495 8501.
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