NEWS RELEASE
February 22, 2019
Official News Release Download
AbbyPD warn of email scam Be on the look-out for this email phishing scam – it’s a new twist on an old trick!
Fraudsters obtain one of your old passwords – likely via a data breach experienced by a legitimate business – and then demand money or bitcoin payment from you in exchange for not releasing personal information to your contacts. Do NOT send money or respond!
The Abbotsford Police Department reminds you to:
- Be aware that scams exist and that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Whether by email, phone call or mail, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam.
- Know who you are dealing with. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a person or business, take the time to do more research. Conduct searches on the internet for others who may have dealings with the business, phone number, photo or email address. If the email comes from a friend, but seems strange, contact the friend directly to ensure the legitimacy of the email.
- DO NOT open suspicious texts, link or unknown email senders. DELETE.
- DO NOT respond to phone calls asking for remote access to your computer. HANG UP.
- Be aware of requests asking for money. DO NOT send money or give credit card details, online account details or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know. If you are unsure, ask, research and check on the person’s/company’s details.
Clues for spotting a fake email
Scammers can be skilled and can easily fake an official-looking email, using the same logo and design as real organizations. If you receive an unexpected email (even from a
company you’ve dealt with before), or the email content seems strange, BE ALERT that it may be fake before clicking on any links or opening any attachments. Check the email
address from the sender and check the legitimacy of the email by calling the organization directly (do not use the phone number provided in the email).
Watch out for each other
If you are diligent and spot a scam, please spread the word! Ensure seniors in your life or those less “tech savvy” are aware of the scams and know how to respond when they receive these emails or aggressive phone calls.
Scammers use online tools that enable them to operate from anywhere in the world, and money that is transferred as a result of these scams is almost impossible to recover.
Please report fraudulent emails to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center by forwarding your
email spam to its reporting centre: [email protected].
For more tips or to find out about the most recent email scams, please visit
www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
Abby PD file: no file #
Release #1
Sgt. Judy Bird……………………………………………………….... Phone (604) 864-4899
Abbotsford Police Public Information Officer …………………………[email protected]
2838 Justice Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3P5 ……….……………...Fax: (604) 859-2527