Scammers steal $6.7K through fake e-transfer links in marketplace purchases: EPS
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is warning the public about an e-transfer scam targeting people selling on online platforms such as Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
EPS says it has received four complaints about the scam since Nov. 1.
In each case, the buyer sent the seller a link that appeared to resemble a legitimate e-transfer.
When the seller clicked the link, they were directed to a website that looked similar to that of their bank.
When they entered their bank username and password, the information was sent to the fraudsters, who were then able to access the seller's actual bank accounts.
So far this month, EPS says $6,700 has been lost to this scam.
"As e-transfers become a more common way to pay for purchases made through online buy-and-sell platforms, scammers are becoming increasingly creative with their tactics to gain access to your money and personal information," Det. Linda Herczeg, with the EPS financial crimes section, said in a news release.
"Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to detect this scam and protect yourself from financial loss."
When opting to accept payment by e-transfer, sellers should carefully review emails and website links to make sure they are legitimate.
Real Interac e-transfer links should come from notify@payments.interac.ca.
Review the email address of any e-transfer carefully and take note of any strange text.
If the link does not look legitimate, do not accept the transfer.
When redirected to your bank's website, verify the website is legitimate by checking its URL.
If the URL does not look right or contains strange text, do not enter login information and call your bank to confirm the correct website URL.
If you have e-transfer auto deposit set up, you will not need to log into your bank to receive payments, but you should verify the payment has been deposited to your account.
Alternately, ask the buyer for an in-person cash payment.
Buyers and sellers are also encouraged not to invite strangers to their homes, but to instead meet at a public location in daylight hours, ideally one with video surveillance, such as one of the EPS buy and sell exchange zones.
Anyone who believes they may have lost money or personal information in a similar scam is asked to call EPS at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING 'Dangerous person alert' issued for Calgary double murder suspect
Calgary police have issued an emergency alert for an armed man they say is a suspect in the double murder of a father and his daughter.
Halifax airport runway reopens after plane caught fire upon landing
The plane that caught fire upon landing at Halifax's airport over the weekend has been removed, and the runway has reopened.
Border agents seize $2M worth of cocaine at Canada-U.S. border
Authorities at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing seized 189 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated value of about $2 million, that was being shipped into Canada.
Year in review: Notable people who died in 2024
Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024.
Liam Payne's manager, hotel staff failed 'vulnerable' singer before death, judge says
An Argentine judge argued that the manager of singer Liam Payne and employees of the hotel where he was staying failed the popstar in the moments before his death, according to the prosecutor's office.
2024 has been a nerve-wracking year for plane travel. How safe is it really?
Anxious airline flyers may well remember 2024 as the year their worst fears about the safety of air travel felt confirmed, as a series of unprecedented, and in some cases fatal, airplane incidents captured headlines.
Mexico to investigate a town that thanked a drug lord for holiday season gifts for children
Mexico's president said Monday that prosecutors are investigating officials in a town where a sign was posted thanking a drug lord for holiday season gifts for children.
Here are some 2025 goal-setting tips according to an expert
Many people set New Year's resolutions but not all resolutions are created equal. Here are some tips on how to set your goals according to an expert.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Grading Trudeau's performance in 2024, and what's ahead for him in the new year
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is about to enter the final year of his mandate and, quite possibly, of his political career, writes Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca. The former NDP leader takes a snapshot of Trudeau's leadership balance sheet as a way of understanding how he got to where he is in the polls.