Vernon Hit Hard By Hydro Scammers

Story from James Peters/CFJC Today

BC Hydro says fraudsters using their good name saw more success in 2018.

In a news release, the Crown utility says customers were scammed out of nearly $45,000 last year, 50 per cent more than in 2017.

Vernon is one of the most frequently targeted BC communities, along with Vancouver, Nanaimo, Surrey, Burnaby and Richmond.

BC Hydro says the schemes typically involve scammers using phone, email or text messages to threaten that electrical service will be disconnected immediately.

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The scammer then tells the customer they can avoid disconnection by purchasing prepaid cash or credit cards, and depositing money into “a bitcoin ATM.”

BC Hydro warns customers it does not collect financial information over the phone or by email, and does not accept payment by prepaid cash or credit cards, or bitcoin.