Don’t get scammed by ‘Hydro’ callers asking for bitcoin – Winnipeg

There’s a new phone scam targeting clients of Manitoba Hydro.

The Crown corporation is warning its customers about a “rash of scam phone calls” — over 50 in the last week alone — attempting to fool Manitobans.

Hydro said the scammers will call customers and tell them their account is in arrears and needs payment, then try to get the person to pay the bogus bills at bitcoin machines located throughout Winnipeg.

Hydro’s Riley McDonald told 680 CJOB the callers have also been known to “spoof” Hydro’s number to appear more legitimate on your call display.

“It looks like it’s from our number,” he said. “But if they can get you on the phone, then they talk you through going to a fake location to pay. If they can’t get you on the phone, then they’ll leave a voicemail and they’ll give you a different number.

READ MORE:
Manitoba Hydro warning public about sophisticated phone scams

“They pretend to look up your account…