Email Scams: Chugging Along
October 2, 2020
Email scammers have not taken a break for the pandemic. Quite the opposite, the Montreal Gazette warns in, “Scamsters’ Phishing Expeditions Adding to our COVID Angst.” Writer Josh Freed describes a few frustrating fake emails he has had to field lately, including a very realistic one purportedly from Amazon about an expensive TV he had (not) ordered. The phisher-man included a number to call if, as they well knew, Reed had not made the purchase. Had he dialed that number, he was sure, he would have been prompted to enter his credit card information for a refund—and been ripped off instead. Other recent attempts on the author’s wallet were made in the names of the electric service, cable service, a credit card, and a bank he does not use. He relates the tale of the time he called a scammer’s bluff:
“Who are today’s scamsters, I wondered? So last week, after getting several phone messages from ‘Service Canada’ warning I’m being investigated for ‘major tax fraud,’ I decided to investigate. As instructed, I dialed back the Ontario number, prepared to meet my latest tormenters. The guy who answered had a strong East Indian accent. He introduced himself as Officer Christopher James, senior investigative chief of Service Canada, Badge #417J2954. He asked for my home address and SIN number, so I gave him fakes. …”
The rest is an amusing read if you’d like to smirk at an inept con man. Some scammers are more slick than this outfit, though, so readers are advised to take any unexpected email with a grain of salt. Reed writes:
“Overall, he was a pretty sad fraudster, but these scams are a real threat. According to the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police], they are successfully targeting many seniors. Lately, the most common scams are COVID-linked, offering fake virus tests, or home sanitation teams that will literally ‘clean out’ your home. So if anyone calls wanting to sanitize your house, just say no. And if you get advised any pricey OLED TVs are being delivered next day, ignore the message.”
Cynthia Murrell, October 2, 2020
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