Beware of COVID-19 scams!
With scammers taking advantage of the COVID-19 health crisis, fraud is on the rise. Beware of unsolicited calls, emails, and any texts giving medical advice or requesting urgent action or payment. Remember: if you didn't initiate contact, you don't know who you're communicating with. Never respond to or click on suspicious links and attachments, and never give out your personal or financial details.
Scammers are posing as:
- Hydro/electrical companies, threatening to disconnect your power for non-payment
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization, offering fake lists for sale of COVID-19 infected people in your neighbourhood
- The Public Health Agency of Canada giving false results saying you have tested positive for COVID-19, or tricking you into confirming your health card and credit card numbers for a prescription
- The Red Cross and other known charities offering free medical products (e.g. masks) for a donation
- Government departments tricking you to reveal personal and financial details, sending out coronavirus-themed phishing emails, and/or tricking you into opening malicious attachments
Avoid getting scammed. Don’t disclose personal or financial information to unknown sources.
Protect yourself with these steps:
- Never click links or reply to messages requesting personal information
- Never reveal sensitive personal information by email or text message
- Check your account regularly and contact us if you notice anything unusual
- Change your PIN regularly
- Shield your PIN from view
- Shred sensitive documents
- Report lost or missing cards immediately
Internet Scams
