With Fraud Prevention Month ending March 31, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging Northumberland County residents to remain vigilant against evolving scams targeting individuals and businesses.
OPP warns that spoofed emails, fake websites, and caller ID scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fraudsters often impersonate trusted organizations like banks, government agencies or police services to steal sensitive information or money.
Constable James Clarke says these messages often seem legit, but contain altered email addresses or urgent requests for money.
Spoofed emails may include professional formatting and logos to appear legitimate, but often feature subtle changes in characters to deceive recipients – like opp.com instead of opp.ca. OPP advises residents to be wary of urgent requests for personal or financial information.
Clarke tells us only 5 to 10 per cent of frauds are reported and last year that amounted to over $630M in losses to Canadians.
Caller ID spoofing is another common tactic where scammers manipulate phone numbers to appear local or display trusted contacts. OPP recommends letting unknown calls go to voicemail, never sharing sensitive information over the phone and hanging up to verify the caller’s identity using official contact details.
According to Clarke, scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to share personal or financial details.
Ransomware scams are also on the rise, often starting with phishing emails or malicious links. Once triggered, ransomware encrypts files or locks systems, demanding payment for restored access.
Clarke says not to assume that these scams are only happening to others.
To stay safe, residents are encouraged to:
Avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or texts.
Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (SPAM).
Report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through their online Fraud Reporting System.
For additional resources, visit the OPP website or download The Little Black Book of Scams from the Competition Bureau of Canada.
By staying informed and cautious, residents can help protect themselves and their communities from fraud.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)