Police warn of new banking scam

Canadians falling victim to bank investigator scam Canadians have lost more than $6 million to bank investigator scams in 2024, which has sparked calls for banks to do more to protect clients

Provincial police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are raising awareness about new variations of banking scams.

According to police, fraudsters are impersonating financial institutions and claiming the victim's bank account has been compromised.

Fraudsters will then claim the victim must send an Interac e-transfer to their own cellphone number in order for the victim to protect their account until a new debit card is issued.

The suspect provides the e-transfer question and answer that the victim must use for the transfer. Once the victim sends the transaction, 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.

Police urge the public not to assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate, and if you are to receive a call and answer it, to advise the caller that you will call them back. In that instance, police say you should call the number on the back of your bank card from a different phone or wait ten minutes before making the outgoing call.

Police add that they should never provide details of links or URLs received via text or email and should not share codes with anyone.