Submitted
The RCMP Federal Policing office in Calgary are warning the public about an active telephone scam going on across the country, active in at least seven provinces.
In this telephone scam, the fraudster poses as an energy service provider employee, telephones a business, and advises the business their service will be disconnected for outstanding bills. They tell the owner immediate payment is required for their account. The fraudster directs the person to obtain a pre-paid credit card, or re-loadable prepaid card, which are available from a variety of retailers. The fraudster directs the business owner to call back to a 1 – 888 or 1- 866 number to make the required payment.
Smaller businesses, including independently owned restaurants have been the primary focus of this crime.
RCMP say approximately 2000 businesses were targeted across the country thus far. They are aksing businesses who have been vicits of this crime to contact their energy service provider to report the incident.
Suspicious activity can be submitted to the National Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or any local RCMP Detachment.
