FRAUD WATCH
See the latest scams below (updated October 23, 2024)
Here’s How to Protect Yourself (updated April 25, 2025)
Check out these helpful resources (updated February 13, 2025)

Welcome to our Fraud Watch page. Here you will find information on fraud and scams, and how to spot them. We provide links to official websites that show the numerous ways online thieves are trying to steal your money and/or identity, and websites that can help you prevent fraud or coach you if you become a victim.
No matter how careful we think we are, scammers try to get the upper hand. They prey on our fears and anxieties with scare tactics that can hinder our better judgment. They try to trick us with email attachments that install malware on our computer, or send us links to fake web pages that steal our usernames and passwords.
Be wary of emails, SMS texts, letters, and phone calls from individuals and companies you don’t know, or messages that are unexpected. Be especially careful with “important” messages using scare tactics. And, don’t believe any offers for making a quick buck; if it seems too good to be true, it usually is!
Have you encountered a scam recently? Send an image or forward the email to FraudAlert@opcug.ca. If we haven’t already posted something similar, we’ll feature it on this page. In order to protect your privacy, we will remove your identifiers.
RESOURCES
Learn how to protect yourself online:
Scams and fraud (Government of Canada)
National Cybersecurity Alliance
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
Get Cyber Safe
Stay Safe Online
Pig Butchering This scam costs victims billions of dollars annually
CIRA Canadian Shield (free DNS resolver and malware/scam protection)
Consumer Reports Security Planner (step-by-step instructions for all your devices)
Naked Security by Sophos:
Phishing tricks that really work – and how to avoid them
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Check a company’s rating before hiring
Websites that list newer and older scams in circulation:
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (COVID-19 fraud)
CIRA Cybersecurity News (vast list of security risks)
Competition Bureau Canada
10 most costly scams for Canadians in 2018 (with advice from the BBB)
What to do if you become a victim of fraud:
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Report a scam or fraud Government of Ontario (includes a good list of scam types)
HOW SAFE ARE YOUR PASSWORDS?
If you allow Google Chrome to save your passwords, you can check them at https://passwords.google.com/ and see if any are compromised, reused, or weak.
See 9 Rules for creating and safeguarding strong passwords (CNET)
Password Managers:
Best for 2024 (commercial apps, PC Magazine))
Best for 2024 (free apps, PC Magazine)
9 Best (free and commercial apps, Wired Magazine)
If any of your passwords are on this list, you should change them: Top100kUsedPasswords (text file, use Ctrl+F to search the list)
Check if your passwords have been pawned:
https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords
Check if your email account has been pawned:
https://haveibeenpwned.com/
SECURE YOUR ROUTER, COMPUTER, and OTHER DEVICES
The Gibson Research Corporation (GRC) This venerable institution has been around for decades. Check if your computer ports are open to attack with their free service: ShieldsUP!!
CIRA Canadian Shield (free DNS resolver and malware/scam protection for all your devices)
Consumer Reports Security Planner (step-by-step instructions for all your devices)
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

The Quandry of Quishing
Beware of QR code phishing
(from Apr 23/'25 Q&A session)

FEBRUARY SANS OUCH! NEWSLETTER
Pig Butchering: romance fueled investment scams

Sans OUCH! security awareness newsletter
Cybersecurity topics researched by a team of experts (from Jan 22/'25 Q&A session)

Mobile Best Practices (CISA)
Communications best practice guidance for iPhones and Android devices.
(from Jan 1/'25 Q&A session)

TD Authenticate App
Access your online bank account more securely.
(from Aug 14/'24 Q&A session)

NSA's Moblle Device
Best Practices
Many moblle features
sacrifice security.
(from Aug 7/'24 Q&A session)

Kaspersky Antivirus banned in the U.S.
For those who are now leary of this top-rated Russian product, there are some excellent alternatives (from July 17/'24 Q&A session).

Ticketmaster Breach
If you purchased tickets from Ticketmaster anytime before May 19, 2024, this advice will help protect you (from July 10/'24 Q&A session).

Chrome browser issues
Make sure chromium browsers like Chrome, Edge, Opera and Vivaldi are up to date - or use a non-chromium browser like Firefox (from May 22/'24 Q&A session).

2FA Attacks
How to prevent scammers from phishing 2FA codes (from May 22/'24 Q&A session)

Sophos Intercept X
for Android
Can it be trusted with required permissions? (from May 15/'24 Q&A session)

Fraud 101: Beware of Scammers
January 2024 OPCUG presentation by Cst. Sébastien Lemay of the Ottawa Police Service (PDF, audio)

Digital Best Practices
Let Consumer Reports show you how to be safe on all your devices (from April 5/'23 Q&A session).

Non-technical Safeguards
by Chris Taylor (OPCUG)
Guard yourself against email, phone, and password fraud, and more!

BEWARE THE POWER
OF QR CODES
Malicious QR codes can do many bad things on your device.

QR Code Scam
Beware of fake QR codes at parking meters

Security Layers (PDF)
Presented by Tom Trottier (OPCUG) at the December 8, 2021 meeting (PDF, audio)

12 SCAM AVOIDANCE TIPS
by Lawrence Patterson (OPCUG)

Social Engineering Red Flags
Reprinted with permision from KnowBe4

Scam Tracking Overview
Submitted by Lawrence Patterson (OPCUG)

SCAMS: WHAT HAS CHANGED?
A presentation (PDF) by Lawrence Patterson (OPCUG)

Zix 2020 Mid-Year Global Threat Report (10MB PDF)
Reprinted with permission from Zix Corporation
EXAMPLES OF SCAMS

Prime Store deals scam
Are these real Prime Store Deals? Nope.

Ryan Gosling scam
Received unsolicited email about a celebrity? Beware!

View Quotation scam
Expecting a quote? Even if you are, this is not it.

Google Groups scam
Scammers adding victims' email addresses to fake Google Groups without permission
(from Sep 4/'24 Q&A session)

Beware of
Clone Firm scam
Fraudsters pose as an existing, legitimate company

Fake documents in emails
Three examples of fake documents hiding strange weblinks

Snail Mail QR Code scam
Beware of a letter with a
QR code from "your bank"
arriving in your mailbox.
(from Aug 14/'24 Q&A session)

Parking QR Code scam
Beware of QR code stickers that will direct your
payment to thieves
(from Aug 14/'24 Q&A session)

Bell Fibre scam
Scammers often have more than one trick

PayPal Bitcoin scam
Scammers trying to steal
your PayPal credentials
(from June 19/'24 Q&A session)

Hydro Ottawa
refund scam
From May 15/'24 Q&A session

Speeding Ticket scam
From May 15/'24 Q&A session

Romance scams
Beware of online Valentinos or Valentinas asking you for money.

MIcrosoft Windows Support scam
Presented at the January 5, 2022 weekly Q&A session

Omicron Variant scam
Presented at the January 5, 2022 weekly Q&A session

Reimbursement scam
Scam offering to reimburse your office expenses

Interac e-Transfer scam
Beware of money from generous strangers

Undeliverable packages
Watch out for SMS and E-mail scam messages about packages being undeliverable

Mailbox Exceeded scam
Watch for strange URLs
hiding behind linked text

SMS scams
Beware of text scams

GIFT CARD scam
Fake stickers covering
real barcode at back

Grandparent scam
Caller pretending to be grandchild in trouble and in need of money

Invoice scams
Don't be fooled by looks

Another Rogers
e-mail problem
"Upgrade or be deleted"

Smishing Scam
Fake Install Now button installs malware on your phone

DHL-Express delivery scam
Pay for package "on hold"

"Can you do me a favour?"
"Just Catching Up!!!"
(not really)

TIM HORTONS scam
"Win $200"

SHOPPERS DRUG MART scams
"We have a surprise"
(it's not a good one)

E-mail scams with attachments
Malicious code in sheep's clothing

AIR CANADA scam
"Take our survey"

HOROSCOPE scam
"Your stunning horoscope at no charge"

NETFLIX billing problem
Cell phone text scam

INHERITANCE scam
Snail mail scam
(If it seems too good to be true, it usually is!)

ROGERS e-mail problem
"You will be blocked"

A COVID-19 scam
Looking for Bitcoin donations