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By Victor Kaisar

Scam Calls

Barriere warning of possible Telus scam calls ahead of work to install new fibre-optic network

Nov 28, 2025 | 8:08 AM

BARRIERE, B.C. — The District of Barriere says its aware of an increase in the number of scam calls from people claiming to represent Telus, following the recent announcement of an upcoming fibre-optic network.

In a statement, the District of Barriere urged its residents to be wary as they note organizations like Telus as well as others like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or banks will never call, email or text to ask someone for personal, login or account information.

“Similar to phishing emails and texts, fraudsters may also try to collect personal information over the phone, either on a mobile phone or landline,” the District of Barriere said.

People who get an unexpected and suspicious call are asked to gauge the following”

• Is the caller asking for personal or sensitive information?
• Is the caller trying to create a sense of urgency and/or pressuring you to take action, suggesting something bad may happen if you do not follow their instructions?
• Does the caller say they are calling from a trusted, reputable company or organization you know would not usually treat their customers like this?

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“If the answer is yes to any of these questions, the call is likely a phishing or scam attempt,” the District statement added.

If a call, email or text is deemed to be a suspected phishing call where an attacker is attempting to trick someone into revealing sensitive information, people are urged to end the call right away or not respond to the text or email.

Instances of phishing can be reported to the organization that the attacker is claiming to be by calling that organization directly. These instances can also be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre either online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

Fibre-optic network installation

As for the Telus fibre-optic network in Barriere, the District says underground conduits and fibre-optic lines will be installed within public rights-of-way and utility easements. There will be some impacts to boulevards, sidewalks, and roadways while this work takes place.

“Residents may notice utility locate flags, spray paint markings, and survey crews in the area as early preparation work begins,” the District said. “These markings are essential for identifying underground utilities and ensuring safe construction practices”

People will also be going door-to-door to seek permission to install a fibre-optic line from the main network to each home, free of charge for eligible residents.

“There is no obligation to subscribe to services, but the infrastructure will be in place for future use,” the District statement added. “Any areas of private property impacted by the installation will undergo restoration once construction is complete.”

Installation work is set to take place next year, and notices will be sent out to eligible residents once work is underway.

This new Telus fibre-optic line will have a lifespan of at least 25 years and it will replace aging Mascon infrastructure, which will be discontinued.

More information about the upcoming installation can be found here.