NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OPP

FROM/DE: Serious Fraud Office                                             DATE: November 8, 2019

SIM SWAP SCAM

(ORILLIA, ON) – The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), in partnership with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), are advising the public of a recent scam that has been reported.

Fraudsters are using SIM swapping and phone number porting to gain access to your email, social media and financial accounts. From there, they gain direct access to your personal information, calendar, contacts and money. Fraudsters may empty your bank accounts, apply for credit in your good name, or impersonate you to defraud your entire contact list. In the meantime, you lose access to your mobile service, are typically locked out of all your accounts, and are left scrambling.

Here’s how the scam works:

Your SIM card connects your phone number and mobile service to your mobile device. You connect dozens of your accounts to your mobile device through the use of apps. Most of these logins are linked to your email address, phone number or both (if you setup two-factor authentication).

A fraudster will impersonate you to gain access to your mobile account and may claim that their phone has been lost or stolen. Your phone number will be linked to a new SIM and device that the fraudster controls.

The fraudster then downloads a series of the most popular and most attractive apps. They will select the ‘Forgot Password’ button on all apps. If an account is associated to your phone number or email address, the fraudster will receive a verification code. They will then use this code to confirm ownership of the account, create their own password and takeover your accounts.

Tips to protect yourself:

–      Keep your personal information personal. It is as simple as not publishing your date of birth on social media.

–      Do not answer phishing emails or text messages looking for you to confirm your password or update your account information.

–      Use an offline password manager.

–      Contact your phone provider and ask about additional security measures that may be available.

–      If you lose mobile service on your device, contact your service provider immediately. Go with your gut. If a message seems fishy it probably is.

If you think you, or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact your local police service. For those who wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or p3tips.com.

The SFO works in partnership with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (www.antifraudcentre.ca) in educating the public with the release of fraud bulletins.

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Contact: For media inquiries regarding this bulletin only, contact: SFOMedia@ontariosfo.ca. This email will be monitored by crime prevention officers Monday through Friday. This email address is not for reporting fraud.

BE IN THE KNOW — BE AWARE — DON’T BECOME A STATISTIC

There have been 6 reported fraudulent type incidents in Melancthon.

One was a CRA scam – complainant lost $200 in google play cards

One was an unlawful sale of recreational equipment – $4600 lost by purchaser – charges laid

Email scam – claiming fraudulent use of credit score – no money lost

Phone scam – CIBC claiming fraudulent purchases over $1500 – asked complainant to provide $1000 repayment – complainant supplied personal information prior to realizing they were being scammed – credit cards cancelled – no loss of funds

Kijiji scam – fraudulent sale of cattle – $500 deposit, cattle never delivered.

International equipment purchase scam – over emails – $38,000 lost – case still open.

There have been 50 reported frauds across the County to date and over $100,000 actual lost funds to these various frauds in the County.

There have been charges laid in three cases only. Six identified as Cybercrimes.

SCAMS ~ “BE SCAM SMART” click here for the latest information on various scams targeting our area.

Please note that the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Website is updated regularly and we suggest you check there on current scams.

CRA SCAM – DON’T FALL FOR IT!

Dufferin Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), have recently been receiving complaints from our local citizens regarding suspicious telephone enquiries. These callers are requesting personal information, and in most cases, relating to alleged outstanding amounts owing to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The CRA will not contact you by telephone for any personal information. OPP are asking our community to be cautious about giving personal information to anyone in these circumstances, and only to trusted individuals whom are known to you.

These fraudsters typically target the most vulnerable of our community and we are asking that you notify our Detachment if you receive calls of this nature.

For more information on the latest scams and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Website.

SOME GREAT RESOURCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME

Check to see if your email address has ever been comprised in a data breach:  https://haveibeenpwned.com/

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the central agency in Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence on such matters as mass marketing fraud (e.g., telemarketing), advance fee fraud (e.g. West African Letters), and identification theft complaints.  Please visit their website:  http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is the single unified source of expert advice, guidance, services and support on cyber security for government, critical infrastructure owners and operations, the private sector and the Canadian public. With the Cyber Centre, Canadians have a clear and trusted place to turn to for cyber security issues.  Please visit their website:  https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/

Introduction to Cybersecurity – Online Training — Click on a module, learn and test your knowledge:  https://www.cybersec101.ca/

Virus Total – Analyze suspicious files and URLs to detect types of malware, automatically share them with the security community – https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CYBERCRIME AWARENESS

Please click on the above link and check out the information on Cybercrime Awareness.  Let’s all be informed and stop these crimes!