Provincial police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are warning the public about new banking scams. Fraudsters are impersonating financial institutions, claiming that the victim’s bank account has been compromised. They instruct victims to send an Interac e-transfer to their own cellphone number to “protect” their account until a new debit card is issued.
Here’s how the scam works:
- Impersonation: Fraudsters pose as bank representatives.
- E-transfer Request: Victims are asked to send an Interac e-transfer to their own number.
- Code Request: After the transfer, fraudsters ask for a “code” from the Interac e-transfer URL/link.
- Funds Stolen: With the code, fraudsters can deposit the funds into their own account.
Safety Tips:
- Verify Calls: Do not trust caller ID. Always call back using the number on your bank card from a different phone or wait ten minutes before calling. Use a phone number that you trust or get the phone number from a source you trust like a statement or company website. Be very cautious of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be employees of Financial Institutions or government entities.
- Protect Information: Never share details of links, URLs, or codes received via text or email.
Stay vigilant and protect your financial information!
