An Ottawa woman fell victim to an e-transfer phishing scam after clicking a link sent outside the platform she was using to sell an item. The incident resulted in a $1,000 withdrawal from her bank account, underscoring the growing risk of fraudulent emails targeting online sellers.
An Ottawa woman is warning others after she became the victim of an e-transfer scam while attempting to sell a blouse through an online marketplace.
Earlier this fall, the woman received an email that appeared to relate to her listing. The message came from outside the platform and included a link to receive an e-transfer payment. Believing it was legitimate, she clicked the link. Shortly afterwards, she received a text notification from her bank that a transfer of $1,000 had been completed, with another transfer in progress.
Expecting to receive only $30 for the sale, she immediately realized the email had been sent by a scammer. The link had been designed to gain access to her personal banking information and initiate withdrawals from her account without her authorization.
Experts say these types of scams often begin with phishing emails that mimic legitimate platform communications. Once the victim clicks the link, scammers can compromise banking details and initiate transfers before the individual has time to react.
These scams typically target people engaged in online buying and selling, where payment-related emails are common and may appear routine. The approach allows fraudsters to exploit trust and urgency while masking their activity behind what looks like a normal transaction.
The woman hopes her experience can serve as a reminder for others to use caution when receiving emails or links outside the official communication channels of online platforms. Fraud specialists advise individuals to verify unexpected messages directly through the platform or their bank before taking action, especially when money is involved.
