Phishing and Email Safety

Phishing is a type of online scam where fake emails appear to come from trusted organizations. These messages try to trick recipients into sharing personal or financial information like passwords, banking details or credit card numbers.

Falling for phishing scams can lead to financial losses, identity theft or viruses on your computer.

Watch for these red flags to help identify a possible phishing attempt:

• Generic greetings like “Dear valued customer”
• Language that evokes a sense of urgency
• Spelling or grammar mistakes
• Suspicious links or attachments
• Requests for personal or financial information
• Emails from known contacts that seem unusual

Remember: Legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive information via email. If you are unsure, visit the company’s official website to find their contact information. Do not trust links or phone numbers provided in the email.

If you did not click any links or share any information:

• Delete the email.
• Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501.
• Contact the company that was being impersonated (using legitimate contact information from their website) to alert them of the scam.

If you shared personal or financial information:

• Contact your bank or credit card company.
• Report the incident to the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line: 403-266-1234.
• Share the police case number with your bank and credit bureau (Equifax or TransUnion).
• Run an antivirus scan on your computer.
• Check your online accounts for suspicious activity.
• Change your passwords.
• Let friends and family know to watch for suspicious emails or social media posts from you.

To keep from becoming a victim of a phishing or email scam:

• Do not open attachments or click links from unknown senders.
• Never share passwords or financial information via email.
• Use antivirus software, firewalls and spam filters, and keep them updated.
• Log out of your email when you are done.
• Use neutral email addresses and avoid sharing personal information in your signature.
• Use Bcc when emailing multiple recipients to protect their privacy.
• Monitor your family’s online activity, especially children.
• Report suspicious emails to your email provider.
• Use multi-factor authentication for your online accounts.

The following are possible signs your computer may have been compromised by phishing or a virus:

• Slow performance or frequent freezing.
• Unexpected error messages.
• Programs do not work as they should.
• Friends receive emails or messages you did not send.
• You receive alerts from your firewall about unknown programs accessing the internet.

Some common email scams include:

• Money transfer requests for a relative in trouble
• Fake lotteries or contests
• Pyramid schemes
• Romance scams
• Health and medical scares

For more examples, download the Competition Bureau Canada’s Little Black Book of Scams.

Remember: Never cash suspicious cheques or send money to strangers. Do not share credit card or banking details unless you are sure the source is legitimate.