Fraud awareness
Protect your business from scams
Scams targeting utility customers, including businesses, are becoming more sophisticated. We want to help you stay informed so you can better protect your team and operations.
Hydro Ottawa will never:
- Demand immediate payment by phone, email or text
- Ask for gift cards, e-transfers or credit card details by phone
- Offer rewards in exchange for home access
- Meet you in person to collect payment
- Hire contractors for re-connection/disconnection for overdue accounts
Our field staff always drive official Hydro Ottawa vehicles and wear proper identification.
What to watch for
A scam may look or sound like:
- A message saying your business owes money or is due a refund
- A text with a payment or reward link
- A caller asking for your account or credit card number
- Someone at your business claiming to represent Hydro Ottawa
Tip: Phone calls may even display Hydro Ottawa’s number on caller ID. Be cautious.
How to report a suspected scam
If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam:
- Don’t engage, click on links or share information
- Report the incident to:
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1 (888) 495-8501 or antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
- Ottawa Police Service: (613) 236-1222 ext. 5433
Together, we can stop fraud and protect our community.
How we may contact you
Our collections team may contact you if your account is overdue. If we call you, we will:
- Reference your official Hydro Ottawa account details
- Direct you to secure, standard payment methods such as MyAccount, your bank or mail
- Provide information on payment arrangements and financial assistance
- Never ask for gift cards or e-transfers, or request to meet in person for payment
- Follow all required notice periods before any disconnection is considered
We may also reach out for service updates or account-related issues using:
- Automated phone messages
- Emails or text messages
- Printed notices or site visits from uniformed Hydro Ottawa employees in branded vehicles
Our communications will never request immediate payment or sensitive financial information. If you're unsure whether a message or call is legitimate:
Call us to verify at (613) 738-6400.