Nanaimo RCMP are warning people about a scam involving BC Hydro and pre-paid Visa cards after a woman fell prey and lost hundreds of dollars.
The scam tripped up a 48-year-old woman when she received a call from a person claiming to work for BC Hydro. The caller, who was in Utah, told the woman she owned money from her previous tenant and if she did not pay the account her power would be shut off. The victim was told to buy a pre-paid Visa and provide the numbers to “BC Hydro.”
The woman bought $1000 in pre-paid Visa cards and provided the information requested. A few days later the same person called back and said there was no money on the cards and told her to buy more. At this point the victim became suspicious and called BC Hydro in Nanaimo, who told her they would never ask her to buy Visa cards and they do not have any offices in Utah.
Nanaimo RCMP investigated and found the number had numerous complaints based on fraudulent activity.
“The victim will not be able to recoup her losses and unfortunately this could have easily been prevented if she had simply called BC Hydro in the first instance and done a Google search of the phone number, “said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
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