New Westminster police are investigation after a local resident was defrauded of $3,000 through an Interact e-Transfer scam.
In a news release, the New Westminster Police Department said the incident occurred during an attempt to sell an item on an online marketplace. Police responded to a report of an Interact e-Transfer scam on Dec. 12.
According to the NWPD, these scams often involve fraudulent emails that appear to be legitimate Interac e-Transfer notifications. Victims are prompted to click a link and enter their banking credentials; once the scammers obtain this information, they gain unauthorized access to the victim’s bank account, enabling them to withdraw large sums of money.
“We strongly recommend setting up autodeposit to protect yourself,” said NWPD Sgt. Andrew Leaver. “With autodeposit enabled, any Interac e-Transfer sent to your email address will go directly into your bank account, bypassing the need to click on email links.”
The New Westminster Police Department provides the following tips to help you avoid Interac e-Transfer scams:
- Be cautious with unexpected emails. Do not click on Interac e-Transfer emails unless you are expecting to receive money.
- Watch for clearly fraudulent email addresses. Scammers often use email addresses with misspelled company names or generic domains that do not match the sender’s purported organization.
- Verify email details carefully. A personalized message does not guarantee the email’s legitimacy.
- Use strong passwords. This adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts.
“When buying or selling on online marketplace, cash is a safer payment method as it is immediately verifiable,” said the news release. “To ensure safety, consider meeting in well-lit, public areas, such as the New Westminster Police Department lobby.”
The NWPD said the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has additional resources and advice on protecting yourself from fraud.
