How do utility scams work?
The caller goes on, telling you to pay by wiring money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, giving the caller the numbers of a reloadable card or gift card, or paying them with cryptocurrency. Scammers tell you to pay this way because it’s hard to track that money, and almost impossible to get it back.
How do you tell if a company is scamming you?
you don’t know contacts you out of the blue. you’ve never met in person asks for money. asks you to pay for something or to give them money through unusual payment methods such as gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrencies. asks you to pay for something in advance — especially through an unusual payment method.
Can someone steal your identity from a utility bill?
Utility impostors send out phishing emails or “smishing” text messages aimed at convincing you to make a payment or supply personal or financial data to sort out a service issue. Identity thieves use stolen personal information to open utility accounts and run up charges in the victim’s name.
Why do I keep getting calls from energy services?
Phone scams These scams tend to use aggressive and intimidating tactics. You’ll receive a call from a scammer claiming to be a representative of your local utility company or energy provider. They will insist you’re behind on your electricity bill payments and your account is delinquent.
How do I get energy companies to stop calling?
You can register for it here: www.donotcall.gov. Alternatively, you can call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236), from the number you wish to register.
How do I stop utility calls?
You can do so by heading to donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register. “That list is a tool to keep the sort of ‘good’ companies—the legitimate companies—from calling you with offers and other things,” Bartholme says.
What are the most common scams with Toronto Hydro?
Other ongoing scams include threatening to disconnect power, where fraudsters mask their phone numbers so that it appears to be a corporation representative. They claim to be “Toronto Hydro Billing and Collections Process” and threaten immediate disconnection if payment isn’t made.
How do I report a scam email to BC Hydro?
If a customer doubts the authenticity of an email, text, or phone call, they should call BC Hydro at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) or check their MyHydro account. Customers are also encouraged to report suspected fraud to their local police department.
Is Hydro One asking for a refund on my account?
This is not from Hydro One. The message asks the customer to tap or click on a link to accept the refund, then prompts the user to enter their banking information. Any customer receiving this type of message should ignore and delete it. This is a scam.
Are You on the lookout for fake hydro bills?
TORONTO — Toronto Hydro is warning its almost 800,000 customers to be on the lookout for fake bills, false disconnection notices and door-to-door scams. The agency said that 1,800 cases of fraud were reported last year. About 70 per cent of the cases involved small business owners and there was a total loss for all customers of $127,000.