The Timmins Police Service is issuing a “Fraud Advisory” in regards to an apparent phishing campaign currently underway in the Timmins area fraudulently seeking personal or banking information.
The Timmins Police Service has been made aware that fraudulent phone call campaign is underway where the fraudster holds themselves out to be a sales representative from an on-line retailer or a cell phone service provider requesting personal information.
During the calls, the recipients are eventually asked to provide personal banking information for an allegedly legitimate purpose. A number of astute and concerned citizens have alerted the Timmins Police that this “phishing campaign” is actively underway in the Timmins area.
This is definitely a fraud campaign designed to retrieve personal information or illicit funds from unsuspecting victims who might be falsely lured into cooperating with persons holding themselves out to be legitimate businesses operators.
Here again and as always, unless you are the person who has initiated the phone call or internet conversation, the need for heightened suspicion as to the intent and legitimacy of any call of this nature is required.
These fraudsters are quite skilled and can be convincing and persistent or, in certain cases, they may opt to use verbal intimidation in order to have persons comply with their wishes or provide personal information or banking details.
Should calls of this nature be received, the best course of action is to simply ignore the call, hang up, and report the matter to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-9501 or at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
The Timmins Police Service is well aware of this recent and ongoing campaign and urge all recipients, senior citizens in particular, to follow the advice provided above
Timmins Police Service
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