Kingston Police are warning the public of a scam which involves fake invoices attached to emails asking individuals to call a phone number to resolve an issue.
According to a media release, police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) have received reports of fraudsters sending emails to victims with fake invoices in an attachment. The invoice will use the names and logos of antivirus, tech support and internet payment service companies, police noted, which makes them appear potentially legitimate. The fake invoice will claim that your subscription has automatically renewed or that there has been an issue with your payment.
“Fraudsters will provide a phone number for victims to call in order to cancel the service or resolve the ‘issue’. If the victim calls the phone number, suspects will ask for remote access to the victim’s device and may ask you to log in to your online banking. By doing this, they will be able to steal your personal and financial information,” police said.
Police provided the following warning signs and how to protect yourself:
- Never open attachments from unsolicited emails as these can contain malware or viruses.
- Never allow an unknown person to gain remote access to your computer/device.
- Always look for the legitimate contact information for your service providers.
- Be suspicious about unsolicited phone calls, pop-ups and emails stating your computer/device is infected with a virus or that a threat has been…
