Today, as part of the second annual Utilities Against Scams Day, ENMAX is warning customers of common scams that target thousands of utility customers each year. The Utilities Against Scams Day is a joint effort between more than 100 North American utilities to inform and protect customers from fraud.
Over the past year, utilities have reported that scam artists have used a variety of tactics to trick customers, including approaching them door-to-door, over the phone, by text and by email. When they do, they often try to solicit banking information or threaten to disconnect power unless a payment is made immediately – usually by cash, prepaid credit card or other non-traceable forms of payment.
"In the past twelve months, our customers have reported a text message scam that attempts to solicit banking information, an email phishing scam and a door-to-door fraudster impersonating an ENMAX employee to try and gain access to customers' homes," said Colin Saunders, Manager, Security Services and Emergency Response, ENMAX. To further confuse matters, fraudsters often use phone numbers, uniforms, and logos that appear authentic.
If you think you may have been the victim of a utilities scam, call the police and report to ENMAX at 310-2010. Visit our webpage on
avoiding utility scams to get the latest information on utility-related scams occurring in Alberta.
How to protect yourself against utility scams:
- If you receive a suspicious email, delete it. Do not click on the link or open the attachment. If you submit your ENMAX login credentials before realizing it's a scam, we recommend you update your user name and password.
- If you receive a text message claiming to be from ENMAX, do not click the link or provide any banking details.
- With the exception of Meter Readers (who carry ENMAX identification), ENMAX does not send employees door-to-door. This includes furnace sales and servicing – products that ENMAX does not offer.
- There are no surprise disconnections. ENMAX never threatens imminent disconnection with only a few short hours to make a payment. We will always work with customers whose account is in arrears to establish mutually agreeable payment arrangements.
- Do not provide payment by pre-paid credit card or other 'loan' type payment options such as MoneyMart. ENMAX does not take credit card payments over the phone.
About ENMAX
ENMAX Corporation, through its subsidiaries, makes, moves and sells electricity to residential, small business and large commercial customers and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with offices in Edmonton. ENMAX Power Corporation owns and operates transmission and distribution infrastructure in Calgary and ENMAX Energy Corporation owns diverse electricity generation facilities throughout the province. Since 2007, ENMAX has been named one of Alberta's Top Employers. ENMAX Energy is currently the retailer of choice for both The City of Calgary and The City of Edmonton.