In some cases, scammers have even appeared at customers’ homes posing as B.C. Hydro employees.
B.C. Hydro is warning residents of the increasing number of scams offering fraudulent discounts on solar panels, home upgrades and other services.
The utility said the number of attempted and successful scams surged in May, highlighting the growing sophistication of fraud targeting British Columbians.
During May, 60 customers reported falling victim to a scam, while another 92 alerted B.C. Hydro about attempted frauds — an increase of 36 per cent versus the monthly average from February to April.
B.C. Hydro said the number of incidents is likely significantly higher as many fraud attempts go unreported.
“Scammers are continually refining their tactics to appear more convincing and credible,” said Susie Rieder, B.C. Hydro spokesperson. “We urge customers to trust their instincts — if something feels off, it probably is — and to report suspicious activity right away.”
Criminals are impersonating B.C. Hydro through spoofed phone calls, emails and deceptive online ads. These often link to fake websites offering fraudulent discounts.
A recent incident involved a paid Google ad that mimicked B.C. Hydro’s official website, resulting in several successful scams. In some cases, scammers have even appeared at customers’ homes posing as B.C. Hydro employees, attempting to access their property or try to sell them solar or battery services, with the promise of rebates.
B.C. Hydro said it is working with police, social media platforms and search engines to identify and remove fraudulent content.
Customers are also encouraged to report fraudulent texts, calls or emails to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
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