Police warn public regarding on-going impersonation scams

26-13157

The Kingston Police are warning the public of an on going telephone and internet scam in which individuals impersonate Bell Canada employees.

In these incidents, victims are contacted by individuals claiming to be employees of Bell Canada. The victim is then advised that a billing error, refund issue, or account security breach has occurred. Victims are instructed to install remote access software on their computers, allowing the individuals to gain control of their device and access online banking information.

Once access is obtained, victims are misled into believing they must return funds due to an alleged error. In many of these cases victims are directed to send money via wire transfer to accounts outside of Canada. The victims are also directed to provide false information to their financial institutions regarding the purpose of the transfer.

Police are reminding residents that legitimate companies, such as Bell, never request refunds or payments through wire transfers nor do they require remote access to personal devices.

Residents should be aware of the folllowing warning signs:

• Unsolicited contact claiming urgent account issues or billing errors
• Requests to install remote access software
• Instructions to send money via wire transfer, especially internationally
• Pressure to keep the transaction secret or mislead financial institutions

Residents should take the following precautions in order to avoid falling victim to these types of scams:

• Stop and verify any unexpected request through official company contact information
• Never grant remote access to your computer to unknown individuals
• Do not send money via wire transfer based on unsolicited instructions
• Consult a trusted family member, friend, or financial institution if unsure