Quick answer and steps
BC Hydro scam calls and texts: how to tell, and what to do
If someone says they are from BC Hydro and threatens to cut your power today unless you pay by gift card, prepaid card, bitcoin ATM or e-Transfer, it is a scam. BC Hydro has said it does not take card or bank details by phone, email or text, does not accept prepaid cards or bitcoin, and does not give refunds by Interac e-Transfer. Hang up and call 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376) or check your MyHydro account.
BC Hydro scams follow two scripts. The first is a phone call, often automated, that says your bill is overdue and a crew is on the way to cut your power unless you pay right now. The second is a text or email offering a refund or credit, with a link to “claim” it by entering your banking details. Small businesses get the cut-off call too, often timed for a busy lunch hour.
What BC Hydro has said it does not do
- Collect credit card or bank account details by phone, email or text.
- Accept payment by prepaid cash or credit cards, gift cards or bitcoin ATMs.
- Offer refunds or credits through Interac e-Transfer.
Warning signs
- A threat to cut your power today, or within the hour.
- An unusual way to pay: gift cards, prepaid cards, a bitcoin ATM, an e-Transfer to a person.
- A call-back number you have never seen. Some scams send you to a toll-free number that copies BC Hydro’s phone menu.
- A refund link by text. The page asks for your bank sign-in or card.
- Caller ID that says BC Hydro. This can be faked, so it proves nothing.
What to do
- Hang up, or do not tap the link.
- Check for yourself: sign in to MyHydro at bchydro.com, typed into your browser, or call 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376).
- Forward a scam text to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it.
- Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on 1-888-495-8501, even if you did not pay. It helps others.
If you already paid or shared details
- Bank or card details: call your bank on the number on the back of your card.
- Gift cards: call the card company straight away on the number from its own website and ask if the balance can be frozen. Keep the cards and receipts.
- Bitcoin ATM: keep the receipt and contact the ATM operator.
- Then report it to your local police non-emergency line. Our Metro Vancouver reporting guide lists the numbers.
The same pattern of urgency, fake caller ID and odd payment shows up in the bank investigator scam and the CRA scam.
Common questions
Will BC Hydro call to cut off my power today?
A same-day cut-off threat with a demand for immediate payment is a classic scam. If you are worried about your account, hang up and call BC Hydro yourself on 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376) or sign in to MyHydro.
My call display said BC Hydro. Is it real?
Not necessarily. Scammers can fake caller ID so it shows BC Hydro's name or a real BC Hydro number. Hang up and call the number on your bill or on bchydro.com.
Does BC Hydro give refunds by e-Transfer or text?
BC Hydro has said it does not offer refunds or credits through Interac e-Transfer, and does not collect bank details by text. A refund text with a link is a scam.
Someone came to my door saying they are from BC Hydro. What should I do?
Ask for photo ID, keep the door closed if you are unsure, and call 1-800-BCHYDRO to confirm before letting anyone in or paying anything. A real worker will not ask you to pay at the door.
I paid with gift cards or a bitcoin ATM. Can I get it back?
Act fast. Call the gift card company on the number from its own website and ask whether the cards can be frozen. For a bitcoin ATM, contact the ATM operator. Then report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Recovery is often not possible, so report it even if the amount is small.
Sources
Want a parent ready for calls like this?
In a scam defence session I walk an older adult through the scams going around Metro Vancouver right now, role-play the calls they are most likely to get and turn on spam call filtering. It is a flat C$149, in-home or by video.