RCMP are warning Canadians about yet another email scam – this time involving traffic tickets.
An example of the scam looks authentic, with the RCMP logo and an attachment of “photographic evidence” of an unspecified traffic infringement.
But RCMP say it does not issue any charges via email, and if you get an email like it, to immediately delete it.
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The attached “evidence” could contain malware that could infect your computer with a virus.
This type of phishing scam is not new; versions of the email were seen in Alberta last year.
The scam is similar to a phishing email that pretended to be the Canada Revenue Agency, either saying the recipient owed money, or asked for bank information so they could be given money.
Canadians should be aware that these phishing scams are a form of brand spoofing, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre explained on its website. The emails copy a known, legitimate agency and are used to “trick users into submitting personal, financial, or password data.”
The Centre offered some tips on spotting fraudulent emails:
- Beware of unsolicited emails from individuals or organizations prompting you to click on an attachment or link.
- Watch for spelling and formatting errors.
- Check the embedded hyperlink in the suspicious email by hovering your mouse over the link to verify the address.
- Go with your gut. If an email seems fishy, it probably is.
If you do receive what you believe to be a fraudulent email, you can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre here. More tips on how to spot phishing scams can be found on the RCMP’s website here.
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