By Dillon A. Meilleur
People are often too trusting, especially when it comes to their inbox. Yet, another email scam has emerged from the woodworks and this time it’s from the police. If you receive an email from the Ottawa Police stating that you must pay a “negligent driving” fine—don’t do it. At first glance it looks official, but if one were to probe into the “ticket” they would quickly find out that the Ottawa Police don’t issue tickets via email. Nor do they do they have access to our email accounts. This online scam has appeared throughout Canada, making all Canadians drivers vulnerable.
The email states that you must pay a $273.53 fine for negligent driving, before statutory date. The email directs you to a link that prompts you to enter your personal and financial information. Most people would quickly dismiss this as junk mail, but there are innocent people who fall for these scams every day. People often panic in these situations and act without thinking. For example: giving all of your sensitive information to someone who you believe to be the police.
Verify suspicious emails before giving information
You need to be extra diligent when dealing with any emails asking you for your personal or financial information. Scam artists have become incredibly crafty nowadays; you have to be more aware than ever before when using the web. If you ever suspect that an email is a scam, but aren’t sure, you can do a quick Google search. Scan the web and see if there are any news stories or chatter amongst the online community. If you’re questioning it, chances are it’s a scam. Be sure to verify any suspicious email with the appropriate organization before submitting your personal information.
The one thing to take away from this article is that you should be extremely cautious when giving out sensitive information to anyone, especially online. Anyone can be a target of fraud, stay vigilant and avoid becoming a victim.
