Beware of Online Scams

Being on the lookout for email scams is crucial to protecting your personal information and money from sneaky cybercriminals. Taking a moment to double-check emails and avoiding suspicious links can go a long way in keeping you safe online!

Phishing emails often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an email that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company, even using the company’s logo in the header. The message might:

Say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
Claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information
Say you need to confirm some personal or financial information
Include an invoice you don’t recognize
Want you to click on a link to make a payment
Say you’re eligible to register for a government refund
Offer a coupon for free stuff

While real organizations might communicate with you by email, legitimate ones won’t email a link to update your payment or private information.

Other ways to protect yourself from scams include:

Report suspicious messages to your email provider
Avoid sharing personal information
Use strong passwords
Keep your operating system and browser up to date
Keep an eye on your financial statements
Never click on unknown links or attachments
Be wary of fake unsubscribe messages
Only respond to known senders
Use two-factor authentication
Regularly back up your data
Block pop-ups
Use a firewall
Use antivirus software

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, you should immediately:

Contact your financial institutions
Contact the police
Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501 or through the Fraud Reporting System

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