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OPP warns residents of phishing scam

Officers from Peterborough County OPP are requesting members of the public use caution if they receive electronic mail from their banking institution, Bell Canada or other service providers directing them to “update their account profiles due to problems with their payment process.”

The notification will be an almost exact replica of a real form and website, complete with legal disclaimers and letterhead.

The form directs the “client” to follow the instructions and “click here” to update the account which, as it is updated, provides the perpetrators with every bit of information added.

This information allows the fraudsters access to the “client’s” e-mail address, through which they make requests to the “client’s” bank to forward money to an account of their choosing and the bank responds as if to a request from a bona fide account holder.

The Peterborough County OPP Crime unit is investigating one incident which involved the transfer of $30,000 without the victim’s consent or knowledge and there have been several confirmed attempts on other victims.

Police recommend that the public, upon receipt of an e-mail of this type, contact their service provider by phone or on the institution’s website to check the validity of the message.

Do not use the institution’s website as provided in the e-mail message!

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