Fraudsters in B.C. are getting creative by using paid Google advertisements or visiting people’s homes posing as employees to try and lure people.
On Friday, BC Hydro said scams are on the rise and people need to be prepared for spoofed phone calls, emails and deceptive online ads linking to discounts on solar panels or home upgrades.
“Scammers are continually refining their tactics to appear more convincing and credible,” said Susie Rieder, a BC Hydro spokesperson.
Over one month, 60 customers reported to BC Hydro they fell victim to a scam and another 92 people alerted BC Hydro to attempted scams. This represents a 36 per cent increase in overall scam activity compared to the monthly average from February to April, according to BC Hydro.
“We urge customers to trust their instincts — if something feels off, it probably is — and to report suspicious activity right away,” said Rieder.
The actual number of incidents could be significantly higher, as many fraud attempts go unreported.
Fraud tactics being used are becoming increasingly more sophisticated.
Recently, one scam involved a paid Google ad that closely mimicked BC Hydro’s official websites and resulted in several successful scams.
Scammers have also made appearances at people’s homes posing as BC Hydro employees and attempted to get access to their property to try and sell them solar or battery services with the promise of rebates.
BC Hydro is working to have the fraudulent content removed as quickly as possible.
Five scam signs to watch for:
- Unexpected payment requests
- Suspicious messages
- False refunds or rebates
- Fake contractors or affiliations
- Unannounced visits or calls
For more information on how to protect yourself, visit .
