TL;DR: Fake Manitoba Hydro emails and texts threaten to cut off your power unless you click a link and pay a small balance (under $10) or create a new account. Manitoba Hydro says it doesn’t send texts or emails threatening disconnection, and handles real billing issues person to person. Delete the message and call Manitoba Hydro yourself if you’re worried.
What the messages say
Global News reported Manitoba Hydro’s warning about emails and texts that:
- threaten to disconnect your power;
- ask you to pay a balance under $10 or create a new account through a link;
- demand immediate payment.
One version misspelled "hydro." Another linked to a site that wasn’t Manitoba Hydro’s. Getting the company’s own name wrong is a strong hint.
Why the tiny balance?
A $7 bill feels too small to be a scam. That’s the trick. Nobody is stealing your $7. They want the card number, expiry and security code you type to pay it, and they’ll use them for much more.
What Manitoba Hydro says
- "We don’t contact you like this, threatening to cut you off," spokesperson Bruce Owen said.
- Real billing problems get person-to-person contact.
- The messages "are not from us."
- Never share personal or account information by phone, email or text.
Manitoba Hydro’s own rules (2026)
During Fraud Prevention Month in March 2026, Manitoba Hydro set out what it will and won’t do. It may call about overdue bill reminders, but it will never:
- accept payment over the phone or through online links;
- accept PayPal, cryptocurrency, bitcoin, money transfers or credit card payments;
- make cold calls to sell products or services;
- respond to text messages;
- pressure you to let an employee into your home.
It also warned that scammers may spoof Hydro’s phone number, and that fake "your bill is ready" emails can copy its logo and even part of your service address and account number. Genuine emails to online account customers come from notifications@hydro.mb.ca. Real staff wear clearly labelled uniforms and carry photo ID, or drive a vehicle with the Hydro logo.
What to do
- Delete the text or email. Don’t click.
- Check your account by typing Manitoba Hydro’s website yourself or using its app, or call 1-888-624-9376 (1-888-MBHYDRO).
- Forward texts to 7726 (how).
- Entered card details? Call your bank and cancel the card.
- Report losses to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Set up your online account
Manitoba Hydro recommends creating an online account so you can see your real balance and get genuine payment and outage notices. You’ll need the 14-digit account number from the first page of your bill and your postal code. Then any "overdue" message can be checked in seconds.
Other utility scams
Same playbook: Enbridge Gas, Hydro One, BC Hydro and Hydro-Québec. A free exposure check shows if your contact details are in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay Manitoba Hydro safely?
Manitoba Hydro says it never accepts payment over the phone or through online links, and never takes PayPal, crypto, money transfers or credit cards. Check your balance in your online account or call 1-888-624-9376.
Does Manitoba Hydro send texts?
Manitoba Hydro says it doesn’t respond to text messages, and that scammers may spoof its phone number.
Does Manitoba Hydro send disconnection texts?
No. Manitoba Hydro says it doesn’t contact customers by text or email threatening to cut them off.
Why does the scam ask for such a small payment?
The goal is your card details, not the small amount. Once entered, they can be used for larger fraud.
How does Manitoba Hydro handle real billing problems?
It says it makes person-to-person contact to resolve billing issues.
What should I do with a Manitoba Hydro scam text?
Delete it, forward it to 7726 and contact Manitoba Hydro directly if unsure.
Sources
- Global News: Manitoba Hydro warns of scam emails and texts
- Manitoba Hydro: Fraud Prevention Month, protect yourself from scams (Mar 2026)