You are browsing the Radio-Canada website
Go to main contentGo to footerNavigation help Start of main content
commentsAccess the comments section
Open in full screen mode
Retail employees in Nova Scotia are receiving fraudulent text messages, according to the RCMP.
Photo: iStock / Tatsianama
Posted at 17:26 UTC
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is warning the people of Nova Scotia of recent cases of fraud targeting retail businesses using phishing.
The fraudsters communicate with a store employee by text message from an unknown number, police explain.
These criminals claim to be the owner or director. They say they changed their phone number because their so-called previous device is lost or damaged.
Open in full screen mode
The fraudsters in this case ask the targeted employee to make an ATM transfer of bitcoins. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada
In many cases, depending on the RCMP, these fraudsters know the business they are targeting very well. They know names or upcoming deals. Additionally, their casual conversation style inspires confidence in the employee.
The fraudsters then ask the employee to send money, via cryptocurrency, to quickly pay certain business expenses.
Tips to prevent this fraud
There RCMP advises businesses in Nova Scotia to review their emergency expense management procedures and discuss signs of phishing attempts with employees, including:
- a sudden change in the owner’s or manager’s cell phone number;
- unsolicited communication by text message only;
- a sudden emergency situation and pressure to resolve the matter quickly;
- a request to deposit money into a cryptocurrency ATM;
- the use of a QR code payment interface.
There RCMP recommends that anyone who is a victim of fraud contact the local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center.
Newsletter HERE Acadie
Once a day, receive the essential regional news.
