RCMP Raised Warning Against E-mail Scam

Recently, the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) of the Charlottetown's commercial crime section alerted customers of Bell Canada [Canada's largest communications company] regarding fake e-mails messages.

As per the text of the bogus e-mail, recipients are notified that Bell Canada is not able to process their last bill payment. Further, the e-mail states that the bill can't be processed due to some changes in recipient's personal information like address etc or due to the submission of wrong information during the payment process.

Besides, the fake e-mail contains a hyperlink, which when clicked, directs users to a fake Bell Canada website so that they can verify and update their Bell profile along with billing information.

Once the users confirm the fake request, receivers unknowingly reveal their personal details and other monetary information. This information is further used to carry illegitimate activities.

Commenting on the matter, RCMP stated that no authentic business or financial organization would send spontaneous e-mail messages or would make phone calls to users for asking their personal details. Besides, e-mail messages should not include hyperlinks or attachments that direct users to websites asking for personal or financial details, as reported by CBC on November 26, 2010.

Alarmingly, the abovementioned bogus e-mail scam is the second e-mail scam that has been discovered by the RCMP in November 2010 itself.

Prior to this, during the second week of November 2010, police revealed an email scam, whereby prospective victims got an e-mail that seemed to be an extremely official email from Revenue Canada (Canada's tax agency). This scam e-mail also asked for personal details.

Further, the police highlighted that, users who furnished the asked information via the link enclosed in the bogus email are placing their social and financial identity at risk.

Commenting on the issue, Staff Sgt. Scott Wilson, (Canada) stated that, this business of e-mail scamming is a big one and the cybercrooks are rapidly creating new techniques, expecting that users would fell prey to their tricks, as reported by Kamloops news during the second week of November 2010

Wilson further stated that users should always remain vigilant and cross check with the agency or contact RCMP.

Finally, anyone who wishes to get information regarding the prospective scams or want to report something suspicious should call the RCMP's scam line at its hotline number or send an e-mail.

Related article: RCMP Alert Public against PayPal Scam

» SPAMfighter News - 12/11/2010