ORILLIA - An Orillia resident is warning others to stay vigilant after receiving a suspicious late-night phone call from someone claiming to work for Hydro One earlier this week.
Eric Moody said the call came in around 10 p.m. on Monday from an unknown person with no caller ID.
“The caller said his name was John Davidson and gave an employee number: 763-291,” Moody told OrilliaMatters. “He said Hydro One would be shutting off my power for two to three days, between four and six in the morning.”
What struck Moody as particularly unsettling was the caller’s familiarity with personal details.
“He called me by my first name and mentioned my landlord by her last name,” he said. “He claimed he had already spoken to her and told me to direct any questions her way.”
But when Moody contacted his landlord the next morning, she said she hadn’t received any calls and, more importantly, she wouldn’t have, as her name isn’t even listed on the hydro account — Moody is solely responsible for the service.
To verify the claim, Moody contacted Hydro One directly.
“They told me there was no outage planned, they have no employee by that name, and that it didn’t match any procedure they would follow,” he said. “The agent said it might be a new kind of scam and was escalating it to her supervisor.”
Hydro One confirmed to OrilliaMatters that for any planned outages, customers are notified through an automated system, either by phone or text. Customers not yet registered for outage alerts are encouraged to sign up here.
Moody also reported the call to police, who he says have opened a file but haven't taken immediate action. So far, none of his neighbours in the fourplex where he lives have reported receiving a similar call.
While the caller didn’t ask for money or personal information, Moody suspects the goal may have been more shady.
“It crossed my mind they might be trying to get people to leave their homes, thinking there’s a power outage, so they can break in while it’s empty,” he said. “That’s what worries me the most.”
Hydro One has issued several fraud alerts in recent months, warning customers about increasingly sophisticated scams involving people impersonating utility workers. A joint initiative with other Ontario utilities launched during Fraud Prevention Month emphasized the growing threat.
According to Hydro One, warning signs of a scam include unsolicited calls requesting immediate action, threats of service disconnection, and suspicious instructions involving third-party payment methods or unknown contacts.
Moody urges others in Orillia to stay alert and verify the legitimacy of any unexpected calls regarding utility services.
“Pay attention to who’s calling you, don’t give out any information, and if something feels off, follow up directly with Hydro One,” he said. “I just don’t want anyone else to be caught off guard.”
Residents who receive suspicious calls can report them to Hydro One or on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
