Over the past few months the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has seen an increase in a new variation of the Bank Investigator Scam where fraud suspects are contacting unsuspecting victims from fraudulent phone numbers advising they are from a financial institution.

Investigators have provided educational information on how the scam is undertaken along with tips on how to protect yourself from opportunistic fraudsters.

 

How the scam plays out: 

  • Victim receives a telephone call from the suspect portraying that they are a bank employee and alerts them that a fraud has been detected on their personal account.
  • The suspect instructs the victim to protect themselves by using their mobile banking app to send a maximum amount E-transfer to themselves to max their bank limit.
  • When the victim e-transfers the funds to themselves, they are asked to provide a URL/link to the suspect which allows the funds to be diverted from the victims account to the suspect.
  • In some cases, suspects are able to provide some of the victim’s personal information, which might include name, date of birth, phone number, address and debit card number, to make the call seem legitimate.
  • suspects will often provide the first 4 numbers of a debit or credit card to try and prove legitimacy. Remember that most debit and credit card numbers with specific financial institutions begin with the same four numbers.

 

Warning Signs - How to Protect Yourself:

  • Financial institutions will never ask for assistance from the public for internal investigations. Criminals use call-spoofing to mislead victims. Do not assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate.
  • If you get an incoming call claiming to be from your financial institution, advise the caller that you will call them back. End the call and dial the number on the back of your bank debit card from a different phone if possible or wait 10 minutes before making the outgoing call or visit your branch in person.
  • Never click on payment links received via text message or email by fraudsters.
  • Never provide details of links or URLs received via email or text message to anyone, and never provide codes received via text or email, as these can provide fraudsters with access to your account.
  • Financial institutions will also never ask you to transfer money to an external account.
  • Fraudsters will often provide the first four to six numbers of your debit or credit card. Remember that these numbers are used to identify the card issuer and are known as the bank identifier number (BIN). Most debit and credit card numbers issued by specific financial institutions begin with the same four to six numbers.
  • Don’t share codes received via text message or email with anyone. In most cases, these are multi-factor authentication codes that will give fraudsters access to your account.
    • Never provide remote access to your device to unknown callers.
    • Always make sure you are alert when dealing with finances.
    • Never provide personal or financial information over the phone unless you called your financial institution.
    • Don’t purchase Google Play, i-Tunes or gift cards or use Bitcoin for payment – These items are not legal tender. Once you give away the code on the gift card – it cannot be recovered or traced!
    • Check your bank statement frequently and report any irregularities to your bank as soon as you notice them.

 

If you have been the victim of fraud, please call the Halton Regional Police Service non-emergency line at 905-825-4777, the Financial Crimes Unit - Intake Office at 905-465-8741 or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

 

Learn more on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

 

Media Inquiries:

Halton Regional Police Service
Media Relations
Phone: 905-825-4899
Email: corpcomm@haltonpolice.ca