Online Fraud
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and United States Secret Service stop $750,000 fraud transfer
On July 6, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre shared a notification about a possible Business Email Compromise scam with the United States Secret Service Ottawa Field Office that resulted in saving a U.S.-based company from losing almost US$750,000 and a number of jobs.
Return scams jump as fraudsters exploit e-commerce boom
Retailers say they are seeing a sharp increase in a type of return fraud in which consumers claim they never received their online orders even though they did. The practice, known as “item not received” fraud, took off during the pandemic, when warehouses were backed up and carriers were overwhelmed by a surge in e-commerce orders.
BBB warns of Amazon raffle scam
In 2020, BBB received 771 reports of scams impersonating Amazon. The bogus raffle and suspicious link are part of a con used to trick people into visiting a phishing website, where they unwittingly share account credentials as well as personal and financial information with fraudsters.
Gang behind huge cyber-attack demands $70m in Bitcoin
The REvil group claims its malware, which initially targeted US IT firm Kaseya, has hit one million “systems”.
Computer scams are on the rise in Nova Scotia, RCMP say
Some computer repair shops in Nova Scotia have been seeing a rise in online scams since the COVID-19 pandemic began and the RCMP is warning the public to be on alert.
BBB warns about Sneakfoot.com, consumers say site doesn’t deliver products
The Better Business Bureau is issuing a warning on Sneakfoot, a website that advertises as an “independent reseller” of name brand products ranging from shoes to apparel.
JBS Canada beef processing facility in Alberta resumes production after cyberattack
The JBS Canada beef processing facility in Alberta has resumed production after a cyberattack that impacted the company’s operations in North America and Australia.
Buyer beware: Little recourse for online shoppers stuck with counterfeit goods
Online shoppers say a loophole in the PayPal system has allowed vendors to exploit unsuspecting buyers with a bait-and-switch scheme involving the delivery of low-quality or counterfeit merchandise.
BBB warns residents to watch out for no-show psychics on social media
The Better Business Bureau is warning citizens to watch out for scam psychics who use social media to find victims. BBB Scam Tracker has received reports from people who paid for readings and other services but never received what they were promised.
Forter valued at $3 billion as online boom fuels fraud prevention tool demand
E-commerce fraud prevention startup Forter has raised $300 million in a funding round led by hedge fund Tiger Global Management, more than doubling its valuation to $3 billion in about six months.
Online scammers active in Merritt, B.C.
There has been a rise in Merritt with online scams, from fake relationships that result in money requests, to selling items that don’t exist. Scammers are doing everything they can to try to take your money and we want to remind you to remain vigilant and be skeptical.
Corporate security chiefs say cyberattacks up
A new report estimates nearly two-thirds of businesses globally, including 63 per cent in Canada, have seen an increase in targeted cyberattacks since they switched to widespread remote work.
Halifax Regional Police offer up online shopping safety tips
Halifax Regional Police is sharing some tips to help you shop safely online.
Online fraud targeting young Albertans: report
Statistics from the ASC – the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province’s securities laws – show incidents of fraud are decreasing among older Albertans, but on the rise for people under 35.
Toronto police warn about ongoing work from home scam
Toronto police are warning the public about an ongoing work from home scam that is stealing large sums of money from victims.
Bradford man charged with fraud
Police say the accused took a deposit for the sale of an e-scooter that the victim never received.
Coquitlam money exchange company out $90k in wire fraud case to China
A retired home-care worker defrauded out of her life savings after she had $90,000 wired to China through a Coquitlam money exchange company has reclaimed her nest egg in a decision handed down by B.C.’s top court.
Digital fraud attempts from Canada increased during pandemic: TransUnion
The rate of digital fraud attempts against businesses up 26 per cent from Canada when comparing pre-pandemic to pandemic levels.
Coquitlam money exchange company out $90k in wire fraud case to China
A retired home-care worker defrauded out of her life savings after she had $90,000 wired to China through a Coquitlam, B.C., money exchange company has reclaimed her nest egg in a decision handed down by B.C.’s top court.
Canadian linked to North Korea was part of MacEwan University cyberheist
In the summer of 2017, MacEwan University in Edmonton was duped into sending more than $11-million to someone posing as a construction contractor.
Your password could be up for sale — here’s a simple way to fight identity fraud
In Feb. 2021, the Canada Revenue Agency suspended the accounts of more than 100,000 people after it discovered some of their login information for sale on the dark web.