By Brent Bosker

Latest phone scam serves as reminder to be vigilant

Jul 26, 2011 | 1:06 PM

Prince Albert police are reminding residents to be vigilant with another telephone scam going around.
SaskPower said they’ve received complaints from their customers stating that they have been contacted by telephone to purchase a product to cut their power costs.

“We want customers to be aware that this is not a SaskPower or government promotion,” said Garry Tollefson, manager of demand side management programs at SaskPower, in a press release.

The caller claims to be a SaskPower or SaskHydro representative. There is no such thing as SaskHydro in Saskatchewan and SaskPower does not contact residential customers by phone to promote products or services, he said.

The only time we contact residential customers is for research purposes, Tollefson said.

It’s up to the public to protect themselves against these types of scams, said Kelly McLean Sgt with the Prince Albert Police Service.

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“We are in a position where really our hands are tied when it comes to these things other than public education and buyer beware.”

If it sounds too good to be true it is, McLean said.

“Criminals unfortunately aren’t stupid. In a lot of cases these people are very slick and they prey on what they interpret to be the weak,” said McLean.

A person should never give out their credit card number over the phone unless they are the ones initiating the purchase, he said.

SaskPower is asking customers who receive such calls to report them by calling 1-888-757- 6937.

bbosker@panow.com