Destiny Funk is warning Winnipeggers to avoid scammers who pose as Manitoba Hydro workers and threaten to cut off power because of unpaid bills.
Funk said Wednesday she nearly fell for the scam this week after she received a phone call from a man saying he was a Hydro worker and would be at her house within the hour to disconnect the natural gas and electrical utilities because she hadn’t paid her bill for more than two months.
When she pointed out she pays her monthly utility bill automatically through her bank, the person gave her a number to call the utility’s head office, but said she had better hurry because her power would be off if he didn’t hear from a superior soon.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeggers are being warned about a recent scam in which people pose as Manitoba Hydro workers and threaten to cut off power because of unpaid bills.
“I panicked. I didn’t want to lose power,” said Funk.
She said she phoned the number, pressed two for the billing department, and waited on hold until “John” took her call.
“It all sounded so legitimate. There was even music while I was on hold.”
Funk said “John” not only knew her name and address, but the amount she pays on her monthly plan through the utility.
“He said $116 was due in September and October and, when I said I had paid them, he asked me for the transaction numbers. I said I was looking online at my bank account and there were no transaction numbers.
“He said it would take 24 hours to investigate it and by then my power would be off. I said I’m not going a whole night without heat and that’s when he said I could pay the bill at a kiosk at one of their agencies in the city and, after the investigation is complete, they would reimburse the money and give me a free month.”
After she was told the kiosk was at a convenience store in Windsor Park, she knew something was fishy.
“That’s when I said I’m going to go down to Manitoba Hydro headquarters. The last thing he said was I would need an appointment to see someone and they wouldn’t see anyone whose account is in arrears and by the time you get there the power will be shut off.”
Funk said when she got to the Hydro head office downtown and explained her story to a staffer, the person said, “Oh, they’re getting elaborate now,” and confirmed it was a scam.
Funk said she has learned the convenience store has a bitcoin machine that would have taken her cash and transferred it to an unknown account.
She contacted the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
“I don’t want anyone to fall for this. I almost fell for it and I can usually see scams from a long ways away.”
Funk wondered whether Manitoba Hydro had suffered a data breach because all of the communication she gets from the utility is online.
Hydro spokesman Peter Chura didn’t address the issue of a possible data breach. He said while he could not comment about specific customer accounts, he confirmed the utility is investigating.
“We take all scam attempts and reports seriously,” said Chura.
“We are warning customers about potential scams that involve calls, emails, texts, or even in-person visits claiming to be from Manitoba Hydro and seeking personal information or payment.”
Chura said customers have to be hyper vigilant during the Canada Post strike.
The utility would never phone anyone and threaten to immediately disconnect power, he said.
If a customer receives such a call, they are advised to hang up and contact Manitoba Hydro.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason
Reporter
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
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