Phishing is a common type of e-mail and text fraud. It consists of sending a mass mailing by e-mail or text and pretending to be a legitimate company (e.g., Hydro-Québec). The primary objective is to obtain the recipients’ personal or financial information in order to steal their identity and their money.
It can be difficult to recognize fraudulent e-mails and texts because criminals are constantly perfecting their methods. Nevertheless, phishing e-mails and texts often share the following characteristics:
Stay alert at all times! If you have the slightest doubt about the validity of an e-mail with the Hydro-Québec logo and colors or a text purporting to be from Hydro-Québec, do not click on any links or open any attached files.
Instead, go to the company’s official Web site by entering hydroquebec.com in the address bar of your Internet browser. From there, you can safely access your Customer Space.
People posing as Hydro‑Québec employees are going door-to-door and using various pretexts to make sales or obtain information. Some merchants are also promising financial assistance and lower electricity bills. Hydro‑Québec does not partner with heat pump retailers or do any solicitation by telephone or door‑to‑door. It is important to be cautious and not provide any personal information. The Office de la protection du consommateur issued an advisory to warn people against this deceptive and illegal practice.
Hydro‑Québec does not send representatives door‑to‑door and will not ask you for information on your electricity bill. When in doubt, ask the person to identify themself (last name, first name, company name, telephone number, ID card, etc.) and verify the information. If you provided personal information or suspect you are a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre immediately.
People have been making fraudulent phone calls pretending to be Hydro-Québec employees. If someone calls and asks for a credit card number to keep your power from being cut off, don’t give them any information. Note that Hydro‑Québec does not accept payment by credit card and never asks for credit card numbers.
See accepted payment methodsYou may receive a job offer that is allegedly from Hydro-Québec or one of its subsidiaries (e.g., Hydro-Québec International). If you answer, you will be asked to spend a certain amount of money to open your file and have it assessed.
This is a scam. The job offers and related promises are false. Use caution and do not send any personal information. In particular, do not send money.
All Hydro-Québec applications must be submitted to hydroquebec.com/emplois.