Manitoba Hydro is warning residents in Selkirk and across the province about increasingly sophisticated scams where fraudsters impersonate the utility to steal money and personal information. The provincial crown corporation has highlighted that these scams are reaching customers through emails, phone calls, text messages, and even door-to-door visits.
Scammers are using technology to manipulate caller ID and email addresses to make their messages appear legitimate. In some cases, fraudsters have even obtained specific customer details, such as account numbers and billing amounts, to trick victims. The utility emphasizes that these criminals are constantly evolving their tactics to bypass common red flags.
To protect against fraud, Manitoba Hydro clearly states that it will never accept payment through online links, cryptocurrency, bitcoin, money transfers, or credit card payments over the phone. The utility also confirms it will never make unsolicited sales calls to residential or business customers. Any official electronic notifications will come from the email address [email protected].
Customers are encouraged to verify any suspicious contact by logging directly into their personal online account or by contacting Manitoba Hydro. For those visiting the local Customer Service Centre in Selkirk, located at 805 Greenwood Ave, the utility notes that all employees are required to carry official photo identification. If anyone visits your home claiming to be a worker, always ask to see this ID.
As a member of Utilities United Against Scams, a coalition of more than 145 utility providers across Canada and the United States, Manitoba Hydro is working to identify and stop these criminal operations. If you receive a suspicious communication, the safest course of action is to hang up, delete the message, or close your door, then confirm your account status through official channels.
