Beware of a scam, impersonation of Ottawa Police and Ottawa Victim Services

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/beware-of-a-scam-impersonation-of-ottawa-police-and-ottawa-victim-services.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 20, 2024         8:51 am

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is warning the public of a reported scam. 

Victims have received calls from persons pretending to be victim support workers from Ottawa Victim Services.

The fraudster typically tells the victim that their personal information has been compromised and appeared on the dark web relating to crimes against children. The victim is then instructed to attend their banking institution and transfer funds or offered help by the fraudster to transfer money out of their compromised accounts into the one that has been specially prepared for them.

To further complicate matters, the fraudster references a partnership with Ottawa Police Service investigators and the calls appear to be from a telephone number that belongs to Ottawa Victim Services (613-238-2762).

People are reminded that, should they receive unsolicited calls from a person requesting money or personal information, they should advise the person on the line that they will call them back. They should then verify the correct number for whatever agency is supposedly calling and call them back, as applicable.

It should be further noted that the actual Ottawa Police phone number (613-236-1222) as well as Ottawa Victim Services (613-238-2762) will not show up on your call display when you are receiving a legitimate call from either of them.

If you have been a victim of fraud, please make a report online with the Ottawa Police Service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).

You can read more about scams and tips to protect yourself. You can also visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on popular scams and the Toronto Police Service for tips on how to protect yourself from scams

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Through the Community Safety Data portal data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download, and interact with data released by the Ottawa Police Service.

'Bank investigator' fraud spreading in eastern Ontario: What it is and how to avoid it

 https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/bank-investigator-fraud-spreading-in-eastern-ontario-what-it-is-and-how-to-avoid-it-1.7012325

Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are warning people about fraudsters impersonating major Canadian banks.

The "bank investigator" scam involves someone calling and claiming to be from a bank, the police, or an online retailer, asking the target's help with an "ongoing investigation" into a breach of the victim's bank account.

Fraudsters will convince victims to send an Interac e-transfer transaction to their own cellphone number. The suspect will instruct the victim on the steps required to add themselves as a payee and to increase their daily Interac e-transfer limit.

The suspect provides the e-transfer question and answer that the victim must use for the transfer. Once the victim sends the Interac e-transfer transaction to their own cellphone number, suspects will ask the victim for a "code" which is the last portion of the Interac e-transfer URL/link received. If the victim provides the URL, suspects will have the ability to deposit the funds into their own account.

In some cases, the fraudster might request the target provide log-in information for their bank account, including two-factor authentication codes, as part of the "investigation", which then gives the scammer access to the victim's funds.

More variations of this scam can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website, including fraudsters even claiming to be the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre itself(opens in a new tab).

Ways to protect yourself

The OPP say to watch out for red flags when receiving phone calls from anyone demanding payment or access to financial information, even if it seems legitimate.

Oftentimes, the fraudster will spoof the phone number of the institution being impersonated, making the call appear legitimate. The scammer may also have access to some of the target's personal information like name, date of birth, address, or debit card number. Fraudsters will often provide the first 4 numbers of a debit or credit card to try and prove legitimacy. Remember that most debit and credit card numbers with specific financial institutions begin with the same four numbers.

Here are some more ways to protect yourself from falling victim to fraud: 

•  Financial institutions or online merchants will never request you to transfer funds to an external account.
•  Financial institutions or police will never request you to turn over your bank card nor attend your residence to pick up your bank card.
•  Never provide details of links or URLs received via email or text message to anyone, and never provide codes received via text or email, as these can provide fraudsters with access to your account.
•  If you get a call claiming to be from your financial institution, advise the caller that you will call them back. End the call and dial the number on the back of your bank or credit card from a different phone if possible or wait 10 minutes before making the outgoing call.
•  Never provide remote access to your computer or smart phone.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says calls from "bank investigator" fraudsters tend to happen early in the morning when a victim is still sleeping or not alert.

If you were a victim of this or any other type of scam, even if you didn't lose any money, you can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online(opens in a new tab). It is also recommended you report it to your local police.

Fraud Unit warning residents to be vigilant with card skimming fraud involving taxis and Uber

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/fraud-unit-warning-residents-to-be-vigilant-with-card-skimming-fraud-involving-taxis-and-uber.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 12, 2024   1:48pm

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit is advising the public to be extra vigilant when being asked to pay for a service with a credit or bank card in exchange of money.

The Ottawa Police Service has recently received several complaints concerning people being defrauded after affording assistance in paying with their personal credit or bank card for a taxi or Uber fare.

In all incidents, a suspect approaches the victim in a shopping or strip mall parking lot asking them to pay for their cab fare explaining that the driver does not accept cash, and only takes credit or debit.

If the victim accepts, they are brought to the nearby taxicab to complete the transaction using their own credit/debit card.  The suspect then pays the victim with cash for the transaction.

In completing the transaction, the driver switches the victim’s credit/debit card for a false one and the Personal Identification number (PIN) is obtained surreptitiously. The victim’s card is then used to complete fraudulent transactions.

The Fraud Unit provides these safety tips: 

• Don’t accept to pay with your debit or credit card for someone else’s transaction even if you are offered monetary compensation, equivalent or superior to the original transaction amount.
• When making purchases, protect your PIN.
• Do not share your PIN with anyone.
• Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess – avoid birthdays and phone numbers, etc.
• Keep a close watch on your incoming bank and credit card statements.
• For more tips, click here.

Reports of fraud can be made by calling the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

New fraud scam targeting local businesses and hotels

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/new-fraud-scam-targeting-local-businesses-and-hotels.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 13, 2024    10:50 am

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit is warning of a new fraud scheme targeting businesses and hotels in the Ottawa area.

The incidents reported all follow the same pattern: a fraudster, usually male, will call the business claiming to be the owner or manager stating that there is an urgent need to pay a bill related to the business. They then direct the employee to gather funds from the register, safe or office and deposit it into a bitcoin machine or to Western Union.

In some instances the suspect was familiar with employee names and local business policies.

No government agency or legitimate business will ask you to purchase gift cards or bitcoin in order to settle an account. 

If you have been a victim of fraud, please make a report online with the Ottawa Police Service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).

You can read more about scams and tips to protect yourself. You can also visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on popular scams and the Toronto Police Service for tips on how to protect yourself from scams.

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Through the Community Safety Data portal data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download, and interact with data released by Ottawa Police Service.

CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

Fraud Alert: Can your HVAC save you money?

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/fraud-alert-can-your-hvac-save-you-money.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 22, 2024   9:18 am

(Ottawa)—The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Fraud Unit, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning residents of the greater Ottawa area about fraudulent calls where someone posing as an investigator offers to inspect your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment to save you money. 

In this type of fraud, a scammer claiming to be from Consumer Protection Ontario or something similar will claim that they can assist you in removing Notice of Security Interests (NOSIs), more commonly known as liens, to lower your monthly payments.

The fraudster may also propose to attend your property and take photos of your HVAC to determine if you qualify. The suspects use the opportunity to canvass your home and indicate they can help you get out of payments or consolidate your debt through a short-term high-interest loan or mortgage against your home (see more about this scam).  

Before you let anyone in your home, do your due diligence, check directly with the service provider that is supposedly contacting you.

If you have received such a phone call, please contact Consumer Protection Ontario. They can be reached toll-free at 1-800-889-9768 or toll-free TTY at 1-877-666-6545. You can also contact them via their website at Ontario.ca/scams

If you were a victim of this scam, please make a report online with the Ottawa Police Service or contact the Ontario Provincial Police. 

We also encourage anyone who has been affected by the fraud to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).

If you need help determining whether something is a scam or not, you can always contact our partners at Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario by dialing 211.

Ottawa couple out $13k after scammer posing as TD Bank steals credit card info

 https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-couple-out-13k-after-scammer-posing-as-td-bank-steals-credit-card-info-1.6755176

An Ottawa couple is reeling after a scam phone call from who they thought was a representative from TD Bank cost them $13,000.

Janel Nguyen and her partner Evan Dudley say that what seemed like an ordinary phone call from the bank's fraud department turned out to be a scammer trying to gain access to their identity and credit card information.

An Ottawa couple is reeling after a scam phone call from who they thought was a representative from TD Bank cost them $13,000.

Janel Nguyen and her partner Evan Dudley say that what seemed like an ordinary phone call from the bank's fraud department turned out to be a scammer trying to gain access to their identity and credit card information.

"They knew my name, obviously my phone number, my address, a bunch of different information that looked like it was within my banking details," Nguyen said.

"They basically told me that there was fraudulent charges on my credit card and they wanted to make sure it was me."

After a series of back and forth, the scammers said they were going to send her a security pin to allow them to lock the card and start a fraud case. All of this led to the scammers getting into her credit card account online and issuing cash advances until the card was maxed out.

Within thirty minutes, they realized what had been done and rushed to the bank to confirm and stop the transactions.

By this point Janel realized that her entire life savings were gone. She had been saving for three years in anticipation of a six-month trip around the world, her lifelong dream.

"In the blink of an eye – it's all gone," said Dudley.

The complications only soared when the bank told them the fraudulent transactions were not their responsibility, and the couple were on the hook for paying back the stolen money. The couple filed a police report and were told it is unlikely they would ever get the money back.

The bank also continues to charge the couple interest on the fraudulent charges.

"It just felt like we didn't find any support when we got to the bank. We didn't get the help we thought we were going to get," Dudley said.

TD Bank said in a statement to CTV News that they use "numerous security controls" to protect their clients and denied fault in this instance.

"Our security protocols and systems include technology that help us identify suspicious transactions quickly to protect our customers falling victim to financial harm," the bank said.

"We strongly encourage your readers and our customers to stay vigilant when it comes to suspicious or unauthorized activity on their accounts."

In 2023, there were 3,631 victims who were tricked by similar scams, losing a collective $309 million, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre(opens in a new tab).

Specifically for Ontario, 1,209 victims were swindled out of roughly $111 million.

Adrianus Warmenhoven, a security expert with NordVPN, says personal information used by scammers to fool victims is more accessible than ever.

"There's a bigger picture that anybody has of you than people would normally assume to be online," he said.

"This consists of all these pieces of data, so if I can recreate this data, I simply am you, there is no difference any more. People do not understand they need to protect this digital persona, this digital part of them because if I can recreate it, I can do everything you can. "

He says banks should have an increased responsibility to their customers, as advancements in artificial intelligence and deep faking technology make fraud easier and more scalable than ever.

"I think they have a responsibility to mitigate these scamming possibilities that they help create as well," he said.

"They need to take a hard look and maybe reinvent some of the transactional procedures again."

The Ottawa couple are hoping that banks implement technology that can flag suspicious transactions faster and are warning others of the danger.

"Just hang up the phone and call your own bank back, there's no point in trusting anyone over the phone these days honestly," Nguyen said.

--With files from Colton Praill, CTV News