Business owner reports scam call demanding bitcoin for money owed to the city

By Medicine Hat News on June 11, 2024.

The City of Medicine Hat does not accept bitcoin, and any utility customer receiving a request for such should contact police, authorities reiterated on Monday.

Medicine Hat police say they received a report from a local business owner who was contacted with a fraudulent threat supposedly from the city collections desk stating that immediate payment in the cryptocurrency was required to avoid immediate shutoff.

A “1-800” number given to the account holder provided official-seeming options and transfers.

Police say anyone receiving suspicious calls should hang up and contact investigators at 403-529-1111 to report the scam.