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The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is warning residents about a “bank investigator” scam that continues to target community members across Halton Region.
Since the beginning of the year, police have received 53 reports linked to this fraud, with victims losing a combined total of more than $1 million.
The scam begins with a phone call from someone posing as a bank employee who claims fraud has been detected on the victim’s account. Using call-spoofing technology, the fraudster makes the number appear legitimate. Victims are sometimes told to cut their bank cards in half and hand them to a “courier” who comes to their home, giving fraudsters access to their accounts. In other cases, scammers pressure victims to share sensitive information such as passwords, security codes, or banking credentials.
Police emphasize that banks will never ask customers to withdraw money, hand over cards, share security codes, or participate in investigations. If something sounds suspicious, it likely is – which is why the HRPS urges residents to hang up on suspicious calls and verify directly with their bank using the number on the back of their card. You should also call from a different phone or wait at least 10 minutes to ensure the line has cleared.
To protect yourself:
- Never share authentication codes or banking credentials.
- Do not hand over your bank card to anyone.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links.
- Never grant remote access to your computer.
- Be cautious of call-spoofing and always verify incoming calls.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud is encouraged to call the Halton Regional Police Service non-emergency line at 905-825-4777, the Financial Crimes Unit at 905-465-8741, or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. More information is available here.
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