Enmax customers targeted in phone scam

Calgary business owners are being targeted by scammers claiming to be from Enmax.

The culprits tell the owners that their accounts are in arrears and their power is about to be cut off unless they pay up immediately using a pre-loaded debit card.

"They had me in fear and that's when you don't think," said Casablanca Video store ower Sheryl Guillaume

Guillaume said she was convinced the person claiming to be from Enmax was legitimate especially after he provided a 1-800 number to verify the information.

"He also hit it on how much I owed that was still outstanding that will be due at the end of the month," she said.

Guillaume was told to load a prepaid debit card with more than $600 -- and to do it quickly.

"All I could think was, 'I know that I paid but I've got to get this payment in and we'll figure it out later.'"

But when Guilluame called Enmax using another number, she learned her account was up to date.

Staff Sgt. Kristie Verheul with the Calgary police economic crime unit says this type of crime is a growth industry.

"Don't feel pressured to respond to the request at all and never, ever provide your personal information or details over the phone," Verheul said.

Enmax officials said they are certain that billing information has not been compromised by hackers and remind clients that it does not accept prepaid debit cards.