New technology requires greater vigilance against fraud
As Fraud Prevention Month winds down, police say it’s impor ant to be aware of technology techniques used by fraudsters
QR Codes: Fraudsters may claim to be a service provider, government agency, or inancial institution. Instead of asking the victim to click on a link or download an at achment, fraudsters may instruct the victim to scan a QR code. QR codes can be inser ed into emails and tex s to direct potential victims to fraudulent or malicious websites or to send payments to fraudsters. Fraudsters send QR codes to victims to assist with the transfer of cryptocurrency through automated teller machines ATM.
Spooing: A technique used by fraudsters to mislead and convince you that you are communicating with people you know, or legitimate businesses and organizations. Fraudsters can change the caller-ID that is displayed on your phone, the sender address in an email, and of en mimic legitimate websites.
Phishing: Phishing messages can take many forms such as an email or direct message, a phone call (vishing) or a tex message (smishing) from a fraudster pretending to be from a legitimate source like a reputable company or someone you know. The fraudster may use tactics like urgent or threatening language to have you enter your personal information. Fraudsters can use this information to steal identities or to gain access to personal and/or business accounts.
Pop-Ups: These are boxes that pop-up on your computer or device screen. They may say you have won a prize or that your computer is infected, along with a toll-free number for you to contact. Clicking on pop-ups may install malicious sof ware or lead you to a fraudulent website.
Remote Entry Sof ware: Fraudsters convince victims into downloading remote entry sof ware or applications that provide fraudsters total control of the victim’s smar phone or computer.
Once access is provided, fraudsters can steal your personal data, emails, social media accounts and control your mobile or online bank accounts.
Ar iicial Intelligence AI Advancements in AI are likely to exacerbate cyber enabled frauds impacting Canadians, especially as deepfakes become more believable on social media sites. These advancements have presented new ways for fraudsters to target victims through tools capable of creating fraudulent content including tex messages, images, audio, video and data.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of cybercrime or fraud, contact your local police service or the CAFC through the Online Repor ing System, or by phone at 1888 4958501. The public is encouraged to repor to the CAFC even if a inancial loss did not occur.