On March 20, 2026, the Town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, issued a public alert to warn residents about two fraud schemes currently targeting the community. The warning was released to protect people from scammers who are using fake text messages and hand-delivered letters to try and steal money or personal information.
Local officials reported that the scams involve text messages about electric bills and letters about By-Law issues that are delivered without envelopes. The municipality confirmed it never sends bills through text messages and all official letters are sent through the mail with a formal letterhead, an envelope, and contact details.
Nova Scotia Power has also told customers that it never asks for payment through gift cards, digital currency, or prepaid credit cards. Fraud activity has increased across the province since a 2025 cyberattack exposed the personal information of approximately 280,000 utility customers.
This alert comes during Fraud Prevention Month, a national campaign supported by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to help people avoid financial losses. Residents with questions about any message they receive can call Town Hall at 902-863-2351 or visit the front counter between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
