The Bridgewater Police Service emblem. Photo: CKBW Files
The Bridgewater Police Service has sounded the alarm as reports of fraud-related incidents surge in recent weeks.
In response to the evolving landscape of technology-driven fraud, the Bridgewater Police Service has reached out to the community with an urgent message: stay vigilant and safeguard yourself against falling prey to fraudulent activities.
Numerous instances have emerged wherein fraudsters impersonate reputable entities such as Amazon, Bell, Canada Revenue Agency, Eastlink, and financial institutions. The perpetrators utilize calls, texts, and emails to coerce recipients into divulging sensitive personal and financial information by luring them to click on embedded links.
Authorities emphasize that none of the legitimate businesses or agencies would ever request banking information or personal details through unsolicited links. Experts advise against clicking on unfamiliar links in emails or text messages, especially from unknown sources.
To ensure the authenticity of any request, experts recommend independently verifying the communication by dialing the official contact number found on a reliable bill or by physically visiting an in-store location.
Additionally, a recurring scam involves messages asserting that the recipient has won a lottery prize, contingent on sending a payment to claim the reward. Law enforcement officials underscore that transferring money through e-transfers or mail to unfamiliar recipients is a risky endeavor and strongly discouraged.
Emerging tactics from scammers entail convincing potential victims to download applications that allow the fraudsters to gain access to the victim’s computer or mobile device screen. This newfound access facilitates unauthorized transfers of funds from the victim’s accounts to various international banking institutions. Authorities caution against acceding to any requests to share device screens, as this maneuver substantially increases vulnerability to financial exploitation.
Cryptocurrency-related fraud, predominantly involving Bitcoin, continues to escalate, as scammers manipulate individuals into purchasing gift cards and capturing the card numbers for illicit purposes. Bridgewater Police Service reiterates that this is an unsafe practice and highlights the impossibility of recovering funds once they have been siphoned off.
To combat the growing threat of fraud, authorities have issued vital preventative measures for residents to adopt:
- Authenticate Identity: Verify the legitimacy of the caller by requesting their identification number. Disconnect and contact the entity using the official number from their authorized website.
- Gift Card Precaution: Refrain from purchasing gift cards and sharing the associated identification numbers with anyone.
- E-transfer Caution: Avoid sending money via e-transfers to unfamiliar parties.
- Cash Mail Restraint: Abstain from sending cash through postal services.
- Link Prudence: Exercise caution before clicking on links within emails, texts, or online platforms.
- Personal Data Protection: Never divulge personal or banking information over the phone, email, or through links.
- Lottery Prize Awareness: Disregard requests to send money to claim alleged lottery winnings.
- Screen Sharing Vigilance: Decline any requests to share device screens with unknown parties.
