A surge of new scams in Mississauga, Brampton and much of Ontario is posing a serious challenge to residents and blurring the line between genuine businesses and fraudulent schemes.
Among the latest scam techniques, text message scams are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Here are four scams that affected the Peel region last month.
online dating scams
Referred to as “romance scams,” criminals construct sophisticated personas to trick individuals into developing feelings for someone who doesn’t exist.
Engagement often takes place on online platforms such as social media DMs such as Facebook and Instagram and popular dating sites.
After establishing trust, the scammers move on to text messages, phone calls, and eventually arrange to meet in person and demand a large sum of money. However, once the funds are transferred, the scammer disappears.
In a recent incident, a 73-year-old Mississauga woman was scammed out of more than $250,000 in cryptocurrency after following her heart and meeting a man on a dating site.
“Scammers will use any means necessary to make you believe that their demands are legitimate,” Peel Police said. “Scammers will use any means necessary to convince you that their demands are legitimate. Always avoid sending information.”
GST/HST Credit and Climate Change Incentive Program Fraud
When CRA payment time approaches, scammers send misleading text messages pretending that recipients are eligible for monthly payments (often large) from the Canadian government.
These messages are typical phishing attempts that attempt to lure victims into divulging personal information.
Be careful when clicking on links or attachments, as they can expose the victim’s device to viruses and malware (software intentionally created to interfere with, damage, or gain unauthorized access to personal electronic devices). is required.
“The CRA does not use text or instant messages to initiate conversations with you about refunds,” the Canada Revenue Agency says on its website.
If you qualify, your payment will be automatically mailed or deposited directly to you, the CRA said.
investment real estate scam
Fraudsters often launch investment fraud schemes by posing as mortgage lenders and targeting attractive opportunities. They present their victims with attractive offers, usually regarding investment properties. Victims are manipulated into signing a second mortgage with the expectation of high profits.
The scam continues while the victim waits for the money to be returned. Scammers disappear without fulfilling their payment promises, leaving victims unable to contact the borrower.
A similar situation occurred in Brampton, where a fraudster approached a loan service and persuaded a victim with the promise of a large investment return on a gas station property, resulting in a $600,000 mortgage fraud scam.
canada postal fraud
Scammers use a wide range of text message tactics, posing as Canada Post carriers and targeting individuals expecting packages.
The message claims that the delivery failed due to incorrect delivery details and urges recipients to click on a link to fix the issue and ensure safe delivery.
This phishing scam redirects customers to fraudulent sites and extracts sensitive information such as bank numbers and SIN numbers for potential theft or identity fraud.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center offers the following tips to help residents avoid falling victim to the latest text message and online scams.
- Don’t click on links in unsolicited messages
- Don’t download attachments from unsolicited messages
- Be careful of spelling mistakes
- Don’t trust messages just because an email address looks legitimate.Fraudsters can spoof addresses
- Be wary of messages that claim to be from the Canadian government or law enforcement agencies.We will never contact you to provide funds via email or wire transfer
For more information, see Canadian Fraud Prevention Center website.
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