Phishing text message scams targeting Essex County residents

In this Thursday, July 25, 2019 photo, a man works on his cell phone. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Essex County OPP say phishing text message scams are targeting members of the community and they want residents to be vigilant.

On Wednesday at 1:46 p.m., officers responded to the report of a phishing scam in Tecumseh.

The victim reported receiving email messages with investment opportunities. The messages would link the victim to a website, where the victim entered their personal and banking information. There were also instructions on how to send cryptocurrency.

Essex County OPP is warning the public to be very cautious of unsolicited emails, text messages and phone calls.

Police say these communications are often malicious attempts to steal financial or personal information, and, in some cases, they may contain a harmful virus.

What are Phishing Scams?

Phishing involves deceptive emails, text messages or phone calls, claiming to be from a legitimate organization, attempting to trick the receiver into providing personal or financial information, click on a harmful link or download an attachment.

Fraudsters often impersonate trusted organizations to deceive the public. Common examples include the CRA, ServiceOntario, utility providers, and cell phone companies. Others may claim you owe fees, such as a 407 ETR toll or an overdue parking ticket-even if you haven’t used the highway in ages or have no outstanding violations.

These communications often mimic the logo, branding and tone of an organization and typically include a call to action. While they come in many forms, the ultimate goal is to obtain your personal details or financial gains.

OPP tips to protect yourself:

• Know that a reputable organization will never ask for your personal information through text or email.
• Ignore communications from unknown contacts.
• Delete suspicious messages, as they can carry viruses
• Don’t reply to any spam messages - even to unsubscribe.
• Don’t open any attachments or follow any links.
• Keep your antivirus software updated.
• Never use the phone number or email address provided in a suspicious message - check verified websites for contact information instead.

For more information on scams and frauds, the public is encouraged to read The Little Black Book of Scams, which can be found online:

https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html

How to report fraud:

If you are the recipient of a fraudulent call, text, or email, or if you have been a victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

If you believe you have been contacted or victimized, contact the OPP at anytime at 1-888-310-1122 or if an emergency at 9-1-1.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leave an anonymous online tip at www.catchcrooks.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.