Grande Prairie ATCO Electric customers are being warned about an alleged phone scam.
According to a social media post from the City of Grande Prairie, the scam targets ATCO customers, with the caller posing as an ATCO representative. During the phone call the “representative” will threaten to disconnect the customer’s power unless payment is provided.
According to the post, ATCO costumers are being advised that “ATCO Electric would NEVER ask customers for payment, as they do not collect money directly from customers for utility bills. ATCO Electric will NEVER ask you to provide payment by any method, including by telephone or in-person.”
Anyone who does receive this phone call is being advised to hang up and not provide the person on the other end of the phone with personal banking or payment information, and to resist the pressure to act because “legitimate businesses will give you time to make a decision.”
Anyone who does get a suspicious phone call is being encouraged to call the RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to report it.