Cherry Creek Waterworks District in Port Alberni, British Columbia, is warning customers about a text message scam that tries to trick people into giving away personal and financial information. The utility says it does not send bills, payment requests, charges, credits, or account notices through text messages with links.
The scam texts claim the recipient has a one-time charge or credit on their water account. The Cherry Creek Waterworks District issued the alert on June 1, 2026, and urges anyone who gets such a message not to click any links or provide any information.
“We want to remind all customers that Cherry Creek Waterworks does not send billing information, payment requests, charges, credits, or account notifications through text messages containing links,” the utility said in a statement.
Customers who are unsure about their account status should contact Cherry Creek Waterworks directly, using the phone number on their water bill or the official website. The office number is 250-723-2214, with after-hours emergencies at 250-730-1806.
The scam warning comes as fraudsters increasingly target Canadians through smishing, a type of phishing that uses text messages. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says more than $704 million was lost to fraud in 2025, with 886 smishing reports in the first six months of 2025 (up to June 30).
Cherry Creek Waterworks District serves the Cherry Creek area near Port Alberni and operates as a local improvement district under provincial law.
