A British Columbia entrepreneur is warning others after fraudsters posing as her bank drained $83,000 from her business account. The scammers used caller ID spoofing and realistic verification tactics to convince her the communications were legitimate, ultimately gaining access to her funds.
A B.C. small business owner is speaking out after falling victim to a highly convincing spoofing scam that resulted in the loss of $83,000. The fraud began with a text message that appeared to come from her bank, asking her to verify a transaction. When she responded, she received a phone call from a number displaying the name of her financial institution.
The victim, Farro Mackenzie, said the caller sounded legitimate and walked her through recent transactions as though reviewing her account activity. Believing the communication was authentic, she answered their questions and followed their prompts.
Days later, she received another call referencing suspicious activity. Only when she attempted to make a routine business transaction did she discover her account balance had dropped dramatically. The bank informed her that two large withdrawals—totalling $83,000—had been made without her knowledge, and that the original text and calls were not from the bank but from criminals using spoofing technology.
Fraud specialists say this type of high-pressure banking scam is becoming more sophisticated. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, scammers often use stolen personal information to make their calls sound more credible and may only need a single additional detail—such as a two-factor authentication code—to gain full access to an account.
Because Mackenzie did not provide sensitive information through text or phone, the exact method used remains unclear. However, experts note that fraudsters often exploit previous data breaches or partial identity information to build trust and bypass security barriers.
Her bank, TD, has confirmed it is investigating the matter. It remains uncertain whether the missing funds will be recovered.
Authorities urge Canadians to independently verify any unexpected call or text that claims to be from a bank, even if the caller ID appears legitimate. Consumers are advised to hang up, locate the institution’s official number, and contact them directly before responding to any request involving account security.
