What are the red flags of this scam?

An unsolicited call or email offers a bill discount, rebate, or promotional rate in exchange for an immediate Interac e-Transfer — real utilities never offer discounts this way • The caller claims you will be disconnected tonight or within hours unless you pay by e-Transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency • Caller ID shows a utility company name (Alectra, Hydro One, Enbridge) or a 1-800 number — caller ID spoofing is trivial • Follow-up emails arrive from free public addresses (Gmail, Hotmail) rather than the utility's official domain • You are told to complete the transaction quickly before the offer expires or the account is flagged

What should I do if this happened to me?

Hang up. Call your utility company back on the number printed on your bill — not any number the caller gives you • Verify any discount or promotion by logging in to your account on the utility's official website • Real Canadian utilities collect payments through their website, pre-authorized debit, or cheque — never by Interac e-Transfer or gift card • If you already sent money, contact your bank immediately — if the e-Transfer has not been accepted, it may be cancellable • Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.

HIGH government impersonation Last reported: Sep 26, 2026 Share

A caller claims to be your utility company and offers a bill discount — pay by e-Transfer now

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. A caller claims to be Alectra, Enbridge, Hydro One, BC Hydro, or another utility company offering a loyalty discount or rebate. To "secure" the discount, you must send an Interac e-Transfer immediately. Sometimes callers threaten imminent disconnection instead. The caller ID may show the utility company name. No discount exists.

A caller claims to be Alectra, Enbridge, Hydro One, BC Hydro, or another utility company offering a loyalty discount or rebate. To "secure" the discount, you must send an Interac e-Transfer immediately. Sometimes callers threaten imminent disconnection instead. The caller ID may show the utility company name. No discount exists.

Also known as: utility company discount scam Canada, hydro bill discount e-Transfer scam, Alectra scam call, Enbridge discount call scam, hydro disconnection threat scam

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.

What to do right now

1 Hang up. Call your utility company back on the number printed on your bill — not any number the caller gives you
2 Verify any discount or promotion by logging in to your account on the utility's official website
3 Real Canadian utilities collect payments through their website, pre-authorized debit, or cheque — never by Interac e-Transfer or gift card
4 If you already sent money, contact your bank immediately — if the e-Transfer has not been accepted, it may be cancellable
5 Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.

Red flags

⚠ An unsolicited call or email offers a bill discount, rebate, or promotional rate in exchange for an immediate Interac e-Transfer — real utilities never offer discounts this way
⚠ The caller claims you will be disconnected tonight or within hours unless you pay by e-Transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency
⚠ Caller ID shows a utility company name (Alectra, Hydro One, Enbridge) or a 1-800 number — caller ID spoofing is trivial
⚠ Follow-up emails arrive from free public addresses (Gmail, Hotmail) rather than the utility's official domain
⚠ You are told to complete the transaction quickly before the offer expires or the account is flagged

Known variants

Telecom disconnection robocall: automated message claiming to be Bell, Rogers, Telus, or Videotron says your phone/internet service will be cut off within 2 hours for an unpaid balance. Press 1 or call back to pay by Interac e-Transfer or prepaid card to a personal email — no real telecom does this.

Last seen: 9/26/2026

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Known variants

Sources