SaskPower wants the public to be aware of an ongoing telemarketing scam that could end up costing people hundreds of dollars.
"We've received reports from a number of customers who have been contacted by telephone and encouraged to purchase a product that the caller claims will cut their power use in half," said Garry Tollefson, manager, SaskPower Demand Side Management (DSM) programs. "This is happening in other provinces as well. We want people to be aware so they don't fall victim to this scam."
The caller says he is a representative of SaskPower promoting a product that claims to reduce power consumption and benefit the environment. People are then asked to pay cash on delivery (COD) upon receipt of the product. The cost ranges from $100 to $600 and some people are told they will save an average $50 a month in electricity charges.
"We want everyone to know that this is not a SaskPower, or government, promotion," Tollefson added. "The product might sound tempting, but there is no magic device that will reduce your power use. Conserving electricity is achieved through a combination of behaviour and appliance or equipment changes - from small things like turning lights and electronics off when you're not using them, to bigger things such as upgrading to energy efficient appliances."
SaskPower does not contact residential customers via telephone to promote any product or service. The only time someone might call representing SaskPower would be when a survey company is hired to conduct research for the corporation.
People who have received calls from this telemarketer are asked to contact SaskPower at 1-888-757-6937 to report it.
