Search

FROM/DE:: Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment DATE: August 23, 2024
CAFC and OPP Advise of New Version of Bank Investigator Scam

(MIDLAND,ON) - Members of the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) are continuing to raise the awareness for North Simcoe residents of the various scams that they may encounter on the telephone or online.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre would like to warn Canadians about a new variation of the bank investigator scam. Fraudsters are impersonating financial institutions and are claiming that the victim's bank account has been compromised.
Fraudsters will convince victims that in order to protect their account until a new debit card is issued, the victim must send an Interac e-transfer transaction to their own cellphone number. The suspect will instruct the victim on the steps required to add themselves as a payee and to increase their daily Interac e-transfer limit to $10,000 (note that the maximum amount that a sender may send through the Interac e-transfer network may vary depending on the sender's financial institution. Interac will automatically refuse to complete any payment by a sender above the limit established by the financial institution). The suspect provides the e-transfer question and answer that the victim must use for the transfer. Once the victim sends the Interac e-transfer transaction to their own cellphone number, suspects will ask the victim for a "code" which is the last portion of the Interac e-transfer URL/link received. If the victim provides the URL, suspects will have the ability to deposit the funds into their own account.

In some cases, suspects are able to provide some of the victim's personal information which might include name, date of birth, phone number, address and debit card number to make the call seem legitimate. Additionally, suspects are spoofing financial institution phone numbers or are providing fraudulent call-back phone numbers which impersonate the financial institution.

Other variations of the bank investigator scam:

1.) Victims receive an automated phone call claiming to be their financial institution, law enforcement or, in some cases, Amazon advising that there have been fraudulent transactions in their account. Fraudsters will request access to the victims' computer to continue the "investigation". Victims are then shown a fraudulent transaction on their online bank account. The suspects state that they want the victims' help in an ongoing "investigation" against the criminals who stole their money and request that the victims send funds as part of the "investigation".

In some cases, fraudsters will add the victim as a "payee" with a fraudulent email address and advise that the victim must transfer a large amount of money in order to protect their account. The fraudsters will convince the victim that they have added funds to the victim's account but, in reality, the funds were transferred from their line of credit or savings account.

2.) Suspects may have the victims debit card number and password, but cannot access the victim's account due to multi-factor authentication protection on their account. Suspects then proceed to contact the victim claiming to be their financial institution and will advise the victim that they must provide a code they receive via text message or email in order to confirm their identity. The code the victim provides is the multi-factor authentication code which gives the suspects full access to their bank account.

Warning Signs - How to Protect Yourself

• Criminals use Call-Spoofing to mislead victims. Do not assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate.
• If you get an incoming call claiming to be from your financial institution, advise the caller that you will call them back. End the call and dial the number on the back of your bank debit card from a different phone if possible or wait 10 minutes before making the outgoing call.
• Never provide details of links or URL's received via text message or email to fraudsters.
• Don't share codes received via text message or email with anyone. In most cases, these are multi-factor authentication codes that will give fraudsters access to your account.
• Fraudsters will often provide the first 4 to 6 numbers of your debit or credit card. Remember that these numbers are used to identify the card issuer and are known as the Bank Identifier Number (BIN). Most debit and credit card numbers issued by specific financial institutions begin with the same 4 to 6 numbers.
• If your personal information has been compromised in the past through a breach or a phishing message, remember that the information can be used as a tool to make the communication appear legitimate.
• Never provide remote access to your computer.
• Financial institutions or online merchants will never request transferring funds to an external account for security reasons.
• Financial institutions or police will never request you to turn over your bank card nor attend your residence to pick up your bank card.
• Enabling Auto-Deposits for Interac e-transfers provides additional layer of security
• Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself.

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If not a victim, you should still report the incident to the CAFC. - https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm
CAFC Team
partners@antifraudcentre.ca
Fraud: Recognize. Reject. Report.
#kNOwFraud
(1) Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (@canantifraud) / X Facebook

-30-

Media Officer
Provincial Constable David Hobson
///relations.fatigue.appraise
T-705-733-5440 E- david.hobson@opp.ca
Social Media OPP Central Region Twitter / OPP Central Region Facebook / OPP Central Region Instagram
Learn more about the CAMSafe program and to register security cameras please visit https://camsafe.ca/
"be on the lookout" for the wanted fugitives visit boloprogram.org

Foot patrol by P/C Z. Javed in @Tay Township netted Zee a quick pic and a chance to chat it up with some staff and council members during a recent Staff Appreciation Day.

FROM: SOUTHERN GEORGIAN BAY DETACHMENT DATE: JULY 30, 2024

(Edited Date) SOUTHERN GEORIAN BAY OPP SEARCHING FOR MISSING ELDERLY MALE FROM MIDLAND

(MIDLAND, ON) - Members of the Southern Georgian Bay detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking the public and our media partners for assistance in locating a male to confirm his well being.

The missing male is Eric and is 86 years of age. He is described as a white male, thin build with white hair and a white mustache. (see attached photo)

He was last seen leaving his residence on Pillsbury Drive, Midland on foot at 10 a.m., July 30, 2024. He did not return from his outing at the expected time and police were notified around 12:30 p.m.

Please note that there is currently a heavy police presence in the area of the Trans Canada Trail leading east from Midland to Orillia as officers search the area.

Investigators are asking that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this missing person to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122.



- 30 -

-UPDATE #1 - OPP HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN MIDLAND
Media Release

Southern Georgian Bay OPP is sharing the following information of an ongoing Scam/Fraud investigation for community awareness.

The CAFC is pleased to share the success of Operation Jackal III which we contributed to. This type of success highlights the importance of reporting fraud to law enforcement and the CAFC.

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is pleased to announce its participation in INTERPOL OPERATION JACKAL III, a global law enforcement operation targeting transnational fraud associated with West African organized crime groups.

As noted in a news release issued by INTERPOL on July 16, 2024, the operation focused on online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it. The TPS Financial Crimes Unit hosted INTERPOL's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) post-operational meeting for JACKAL III at Toronto Police Headquarters on July 2, 2024, with law enforcement representatives from 21 countries across five continents in attendance.

“In Canada, these crime groups are responsible for various cyber-related frauds that often target vulnerable and elderly victims," said Detective Sergeant Anthony Coscarella of the Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes Unit. “Whether it's a romance, investment, or other advance fee scam, the victims of these crimes have suffered significant financial losses."

In late 2023, the Financial Crimes Unit began investigating a cyber-related romance fraud linked to West African crime groups targeting elderly victims on various social media platforms.

In July 2024, the Financial Crimes Unit executed search warrants as part of a Theft of Mail and Fraud investigation. Suspects were found to have stolen business cheques and other financial documents from Canada Post mailboxes in the GTA and across southern Ontario in order to commit identity theft and other frauds. Several of these frauds have been linked to West African crime groups, including Black Axe.

To date, police have arrested seven suspects from the Toronto area for receiving and moving illicit funds taken from victims, with losses exceeding $1.3 million.

“TPS remains committed to protecting our communities from financial crimes and bringing those responsible to justice," said Detective Sergeant Coscarella. “Our collaboration with INTERPOL and our international and national partners is crucial in tackling these sophisticated criminal networks."
Investigations by TPS related to OPERATION JACKAL III are ongoing, and the names of those arrested will not be released at this time.

The Toronto Police Service would like to thank our partners in the Toronto Strategic Partnership, including the Ministry of Finance Ontario, Canada Post Security & Investigation Services, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) also assisted with the investigation.
For media interviews, please contact CorpComm@TPS.ca. Detective David Coffey will be available today from 11am – 2pm.

Full news release: https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/60337/

Thank you,
CAFC Team
partners@antifraudcentre.ca
Fraud: Recognize. Reject. Report.
#kNOwFraud

Follow us on Twitter (@canantifraud) and Facebook (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)
Bonjour,

Le CAFC est heureux de partager le succès de l'opération Jackal III à laquelle on a contribué. Ce type de succès souligne l'importance de signaler les fraudes au CAFC.

Le Service de police de Toronto a le plaisir d'annoncer sa participation à l'opération INTERPOL JACKAL III, une opération mondiale d'application de la loi visant l'escroquerie transnationale associée aux groupes criminels organisés d'Afrique de l'Ouest.

Comme l'indique un communiqué de presse publié par INTERPOL le 16 juillet 2024, l'opération s'est concentrée sur la fraude financière en ligne et les syndicats ouest-africains qui en sont à l'origine. Le 2 juillet 2024, le service de lutte contre la criminalité financière du SPT a accueilli au siège de la police de Toronto la réunion post-opérationnelle du Centre INTERPOL de lutte contre la criminalité financière et la corruption (IFCACC) concernant JACKAL III, à laquelle ont participé des représentants des services chargés de l'application de la loi de 21 pays répartis sur les cinq continents.

« Au Canada, ces groupes criminels sont responsables de diverses fraudes cybernétiques qui visent souvent des victimes vulnérables et âgées », a déclaré le sergent-détective Anthony Coscarella, de l'unité de lutte contre la criminalité financière du service de police de Toronto. « Qu'il s'agisse d'une escroquerie à l'amour, à l'investissement ou à l'avance, les victimes de ces crimes ont subi d'importantes pertes financières.

En 2023, l'Unité des crimes financiers a commencé à enquêter sur une fraude à l'idylle cybernétique liée à des groupes criminels d'Afrique de l'Ouest ciblant des victimes âgées sur diverses plates-formes de médias sociaux.

En juillet 2024, l'unité des crimes financiers a exécuté des mandats de perquisition dans le cadre d'une enquête sur le vol de courrier et la fraude. On a découvert que les suspects avaient volé des chèques d'entreprise et d'autres documents financiers dans les boîtes aux lettres de Postes Canada dans la région de Toronto et dans le sud de l'Ontario afin de commettre des vols d'identité et d'autres fraudes.

Plusieurs de ces fraudes ont été liées à des groupes criminels d'Afrique de l'Ouest, dont Black Axe.

À ce jour, la police a arrêté sept suspects de la région de Toronto pour avoir reçu et déplacé des fonds illicites prélevés sur les victimes, avec des pertes dépassant 1,3 million de dollars.

« Le SPT reste déterminé à protéger nos communautés contre les délits financiers et à traduire les responsables en justice », a déclaré le sergent-détective Coscarella. « Notre collaboration avec INTERPOL et nos partenaires nationaux et internationaux est essentielle pour lutter contre ces réseaux criminels sophistiqués.

Les enquêtes menées par le SPT dans le cadre de l'OPERATION JACKAL III se poursuivent et les noms des personnes arrêtées ne seront pas divulgués pour l'instant.

Le service de police de Toronto souhaite remercier ses partenaires du Partenariat stratégique de Toronto, notamment le ministère des Finances de l'Ontario, les services de sécurité et d'enquête de Postes Canada, le service d'inspection postale des États-Unis et le Centre antifraude du Canada (CAFC). L'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada (ASFC) et le Centre d'analyse des opérations et déclarations financières du Canada (CANAFE) ont également contribué à l'enquête.

Pour les interviews des médias, veuillez contacter CorpComm@TPS.ca. Le détective David Coffey sera disponible aujourd'hui de 11h à 14h.

Pour lire le communiqué de presse, visitez : https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/60337/