A resident was defrauded out of $1,500 after receiving a phone call from an unknown male posing as an internet service technician. The man persuaded the victim to provide access to their computer remotely. Malware was installed on the computer, and the scammer accessed online bank accounts and withdrew $1,500.
If you received a phone call like this and transferred money, please call the police and report it to your financial institution.
In a phishing scam, a fraudster calls you, texts, emails, or uses social media to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware, or sharing sensitive information. Phishing appears to be legitimate and from a trusted source.
Tips to protect yourself against phishing scams:
• Never trust alarming messages or calls for unscheduled service maintenance.
• Hang up the phone or delete the email and call the company directly using a phone number or website you know is real.
• Reputable companies will not request personal or financial information or account details by email.
• Do not open attachments or click embedded links.
• Keep your software and operating system up to date.
• Call the police and report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Take the time to talk to your family and friends about fraud prevention.
If you or a family member were a victim of fraud, please contact the CPS at 905-372-6821 or the law enforcement agency in your jurisdiction. If a scammer has contacted you or a family member, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at or by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).
Please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website for a list of known scams and learn more about how to protect yourself.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Lisa Munday
Communications Coordinator
Cobourg Police Service
Lisa.munday@cobourgpolice.com