Penticton restauranteur taken by hydro phone scam

PENTICTON – A local restauranteur fell prey to a scam involving his hydro bill last week.

RCMP say the man received a call from a 1-800 number and the scammer said they were with B.C. Hydro. The victim was told that if he didn't pay an outstanding $1,200 bill immediately his power would be cut off.

B.C. Hydro was closed for the day, but the fraud artist told the man he could pay the money he owned using a pay safe card he could get at the post office. He did so, paying his bill in its entirety.

He was then asked if he owned a second store, which he does, and was then told that store had a $900 bill that needed to be paid immediately.

Police say he decided to wait for the deadline to pass and discovered the lights did not go out. When he called the 1-800 number back, he was taken straight to voice mail with no option to leave a message.

“This is obviously a scam,” Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. “This is not how B.C. Hydro collects money or conducts business. Do not pay anyone in pay cards."

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