Hydro-Québec warns customers about fraudsters using the company's name

Jul 23 2019, 1:03 am

Hydro-Québec is warning its clients to beware of new scams that are circulating around the province, using the utility company’s name.

The alert warns of e-mail, text, and telephone frauds whose “primary objective is to obtain the recipients’ personal or financial information in order to steal their identity and their money.”

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The company says scammers are asking clients for credit card information, contacting people pretending to be Hydro-Québec employees.

Fraudsters are also offering fake Hydro-Québec jobs, asking clients to open a file with personal information to get full access.

“Stay alert at all times,” reads the company’s warning. “If you have the slightest doubt about the validity of an e-mail with the Hydro-Québec logo and colours or a text purporting to be from Hydro-Québec, do not click on any links or open any attached files.”

Hydro-Québec says phishing e-mails and texts often share the following characteristics:

  • The text contains spelling mistakes and/or awkward phrasing.
  • The sender refers to a fictitious problem, such as a late payment or a security breach involving your confidential information
  • The sender insists on the urgent nature of the situation to make you take immediate action
  • The links in the e-mail or text take you to a web page where you are asked to enter personal information (password, date of birth, social insurance number, or credit card)

Hydro-Québec has not specified how many people have been affected by the scams but reiterated that the company will never ask for a credit card number and wouldn’t ask for money during job applications.

DH Montreal StaffDH Montreal Staff

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