Police Warn Against Utilities Phishing Scam 2023.8.4……【Police】【Canada】The Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau is warning residents about a Phishing scam targeting residents in the Region of Peel.
➤【加拿大】警方警告公用事业网络钓鱼诈骗
加拿大安大略省皮尔区警察反欺诈局警告居民注意针对皮尔区居民的网络钓鱼诈骗。
最近报道的几起事件涉及居民接到一家名为“Utility Savings Expert.(公用事业储蓄专家)”的公司的电话。该公司为受害者提供高达 50% 的各种账单折扣，包括水电费、燃气费和电话费。
犯罪嫌疑人欺骗房主分享他们的个人账单账户信息，然后利用这些信息代表受害者进行虚假账单支付。一旦获得信任，且房主收到账单付款确认后，犯罪嫌疑人将大笔资金转入房主的银行账户，并立即要求通过电子转账转回一大笔款项。
在所有事件中，犯罪嫌疑人的存款和付款均被金融机构视为资金不足（NSF），从而给受害人造成重大经济损失。
针对公用事业客户的诈骗越来越多。任何身份不明的人或公司提出的金钱请求都应受到怀疑。
调查人员提醒公众注意以下事项：
如果您收到冒充公用事业代表的电子邮件、短信或电话，提出为您支付账单或汇款，请将此视为诈骗。
应谨慎对待金钱请求，并进行适当的尽职调查。
与任何人分享您的个人信息或帐户信息时请务必谨慎。
骗子会“伪造”他们的电话号码，并提供合法的网站信息，以进一步获得信任。

Police Warn Against Utilities Phishing Scam
Posted On Friday August 04, 2023

Region of Peel – The Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau is warning residents about a Phishing scam targeting residents in the Region of Peel.

Several recently reported incidents involved residents who received phone calls from a company named “Utility Savings Expert.” The company offered victims up to 50% off of various bills, including hydro, gas, and phone bills.

The suspect(s) deceived homeowners into sharing their personal billing account information, which they then used to make fake bill payments on the victims’ behalf. Once trust was gained and the homeowner received bill payment confirmation, the suspect transferred a considerable money into the homeowner’s bank account and immediately requested a large sum to be transferred back via e-transfers.

In all incidents, deposits and payments made by the suspect(s) were deemed non-sufficient funds (NSF) by financial institutions, which resulted in a significant financial loss for the victim.

There are a growing number of scams against utility customers. Any requests for money by unknown persons or companies should be treated suspiciously.

Investigators would like to remind the public of the following:

• If you receive an email, text message or phone call from someone posing as a utility representative offering to pay your bills or send you money, consider it a scam.
• Requests for money should be treated with caution, and an appropriate amount of due diligence should be practiced.
• Always be cautious about sharing your personal information or account information with anyone.
• Scammers will “spoof” their phone numbers and provide legitimate website information to further gain trust.

Education is the key to prevention with this type of fraud. To learn more about this and other scams affecting Canadians, residents are encouraged to visit: www.antifraudcentre.ca .

Anyone with information regarding this type of scam is asked to contact the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau at 905-453-2121 ext. 3335.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by going to www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.

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