Manitoba Hydro has issued an urgent warning to its customers about a sophisticated email phishing scam currently circulating. The fraudulent emails, designed to look like legitimate communications from the utility provider, attempt to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links or divulging sensitive personal and financial information.
Details of the Deceptive Email Campaign
The scam centers on emails with the subject line "Your bill is ready" or similar variations. These messages are crafted to mimic Manitoba Hydro's official branding and style, creating a false sense of urgency for the recipient to view or pay a supposed invoice. The primary goal of the cybercriminals is to steal personal data, which can lead to identity theft or financial loss.
Manitoba Hydro confirmed the scam was active as of December 05, 2025. The company emphasizes that it will never send emails requesting customers to confirm account details, passwords, or credit card information via a link in an unsolicited message.
How to Protect Yourself from Utility Scams
To avoid falling victim to this and similar scams, Manitoba Hydro and cybersecurity experts recommend several key actions. First, do not click on any links or open attachments in suspicious emails. Instead, customers should log into their Manitoba Hydro account directly through the official website or mobile app to check their bill status.
Other protective measures include:
- Carefully examining the sender's email address for slight misspellings or unusual domains.
- Being wary of messages that create a strong sense of urgency or threaten service disconnection.
- Contacting Manitoba Hydro directly using a verified phone number from a past bill or the official website if you are unsure about an email's authenticity.
Reporting Fraudulent Activity
If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from Manitoba Hydro, you should report it immediately. Forward the scam email to the company's dedicated security team and then delete it from your inbox. You can also report phishing attempts to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to help authorities track and combat these crimes.
This alert serves as a critical reminder for all consumers to remain vigilant with their digital communications, especially during periods when utility usage and billing may be top of mind. Proactive awareness is the best defense against increasingly convincing online fraud.