Penticton RCMP are warning others after a local business owner lost $1,200 to a scammer posing as a B.C. Hydro employee.
Police said the owner of a Penticton restaurant received a call from a 1-800 number.
The person on the other end of the line claimed to be from B.C. Hydro and told the man he owned $1,200 to the utility for outstanding bills. The caller said that if it wasn’t paid immediately, the electricity would be shut off at his restaurant.
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The scammer told the business owner to pay the supposed overdue fees with pay cards, similar to a money order, which can be purchased at the post office.
The business owner paid up, but the scammer didn’t stop there.
The scammer asked the man if he owned a second business in town.
When the businessman said that he did, the scammer told him there was $900 in overdue B.C. Hydro fees at the second location. Again the scammer said the power would be turned off if the business owner didn’t pay.
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RCMP said the man decided to wait about 20 minutes before making the second payment.
“To his amazement the lights in the restaurant stayed on,” Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth said.
“When he called ‘Michael’ from B.C. Hydro back, the number went straight to voicemail with no option of leaving a message.”
Wrigglesworth said this is obviously a scam.
“This is not how B.C. Hydro collects money or does business. Do not pay anyone in pay cards,” Wrigglesworth said.