It’s Fraud Prevention Month. Learn how important it is to protect yourself from frauds and scams. Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and fraudsters have targeted customers by pretending to be Manitoba Hydro through emails, phone calls, text messages and even door-to-door visits. Know how to spot fraudulent notifications to keep you and your information safe.
Learn how to protect yourself.
Email scams
There’s a lot of convincing email scams that are just like Manitoba Hydro’s official “your bill is ready” notifications. These messages often include our logo, parts of a service address and partial account numbers to seem real. They usually ask you to click a link or make a payment right away.
Although we do send emails to online account customers, to make sure it’s from Manitoba Hydro, here are important details you should always verify before you click on any links:
- check the email address that it came from: our email address is notifications@hydro.mb.ca
- check the address and partial account number: make sure they both match your address and your account number
- don’t click on links you’re unsure of: if you’re suspicious of an email, log in directly to our website or mobile app to see your balance and bills
Phone calls and text messages
A screenshot of a text scam. Manitoba Hydro will never ask for payment through online links
Enlarge image: A text message warning of an overdue balance with a link to make payment.
Scammers have also been contacting Manitobans by phone and text, claiming their Manitoba Hydro account is overdue and demanding immediate payment. These messages try to create panic by threatening immediate service disconnection.
With advanced spoofing technology, scammers may even make it seem as though they are calling from a Manitoba Hydro phone number. While we may call you for a variety of reasons (including overdue bill reminders), we will never:
- accept payment over the phone or through online links
- accept PayPal, cryptocurrency or bitcoin, money transfers or credit card payments
- make cold calls to sell products or services
- respond to text messages
If something seems suspicious, hang up the phone and do not click on any links in a text message. Confirm your account balance safely by logging into your online account (through our website or our mobile app) or by call us directly at 1-888-624-9376 (1-888-MBHYDRO). You can make a payment with one of our approved payment options.
Door-to-door scams
Scams aren’t just digital communications. Some fraudsters go door-to-door pretending to be our employees. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Meter readers will enter yards, but do not usually need to come inside your home unless your meter is located inside. If they ask to come inside your home and you're unsure, you can offer to give them a picture of the meter reading or ask them to give you a meter reading card and you can fill it on your own. Meter readers wear uniformed, clearly labelled clothing.
- Official employees will always have photo identification with their name and picture. They will be wearing uniformed clothing or driving a vehicle with our logo.
- We will usually let you know ahead of time if on of our employees needs access your home or property.
Before letting anyone inside, make sure:
- they have an official ID card with their name and picture
- they are professional and courteous
- they confirm their identity for your safety
Our employees will never pressure you to let them inside and will never try to sell you any products or services.
Protect yourself
The best way to protect yourself from fraud or scams is to create an online account. With an online account, you can see your account balance, get outage and payment notifications and submit meter readings securely. It’s easy to get started. All you need is the 14-digit account number that’s on the first page of your energy bill and your postal code.
