Scammers impersonate Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in latest scheme targeting Ontario residents

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, a trusted source for alerting the public to emerging scams, is now itself a target of the latest impersonation scheme.

Scammers will call, fax, or send an email pretending to seek your assistance in catching a bank employee stealing money or claiming to help you resolve suspicious transactions in your bank account.

Additionally, the fraudsters will use the CAFC letterhead and logo for added credibility to their scams.

The CAFC details on its website the four tactics scammers use in their attempts to defraud victims:

Dial *72

Scammers will instruct victims to dial *72 and enter a phone number. This action forwards calls from the victim’s number to another, allowing scammers to intercept important calls such as notifications from legitimate financial institutions about potential fraud.

Residence Visits

Posing as investigator’s, scammers will visit victims’ homes, asking them to place their bank card and PIN in an envelope on the doorstep for pick-up. They then use the cards for unauthorized transactions.

Catch a bank employee

The fraudster alleges they’re helping catch a dishonest bank employee. They will guide the victim to make a discreet cash withdrawal, emphasizing not to inform the bank teller. Afterward, the victim is requested to meet the scammer in a nearby parking lot where they must hand over the cash.

Unauthorized charges or compromised account

The fraudster will pose as a bank or credit card representative claiming there were unauthorized charges or the victim’s account was compromised. The scammer may demand credit card details and ask for money as reimbursement fees or “bait money” to catch a dishonest “employee.”

The CAFC recommends residents follow these protective measures to avoid falling victim to such scams:

• Avoid Dialing *72: This forwards calls to fraudsters.
• Common Card Digits: Fraudsters may share the first 4 digits of your debit/credit card. Individuals are reminded that most debit and credit card numbers belonging to well-known financial institutions begin with the same 4 numbers.
• Early Morning Calls: Be cautious of calls from bank investigator fraudsters in the early morning targeting less alert victims.
• No Fund Transfers: Financial institutions or online merchants won’t request fund transfers to external accounts for security reasons.
• Card Handover: Institutions or police won’t ask for you to handover your bank card at your place of residence.
• Call-Spoofing: Criminals use call-spoofing to mislead victims; don’t trust displayed phone numbers.
• No Remote Access: Never grant remote computer access to unknown people.
• Verify Callers: If a call claims to be from your financial institution, insist on calling back using the official number on your card.
• Independent Verification: End the call and dial the number on your card from a different phone or wait 10 minutes before calling back.