police warn public to be aware of latest text scams circulating in nova scotia
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halifax regional police advise the public to be aware of unsolicited texts and emails.
rcmp
if you have received an unsolicited text message from a government agency that offered a refund, it’s not an early christmas present; it’s more likely you are the target of a scam.
in recent days, many nova scotians have received text messages that offer refunds, threaten collection proceedings or the suspension of accounts.
“email and text message scams have been and continue to be a common occurrence, especially during the holiday season,” said const. martin cromwell, public information officer with halifax regional police.
one such text message scam that has been hitting up people’s phones suggests the possibility of a refund from access nova scotia. the message tells the recipient that, following a review of registration fees in 2024, a refund has been issued on their account. the person is then provided a link for more information.
on tuesday, service nova scotia warned the public of the scam.
these texts and emails from fraudsters acting as trusted government agencies, businesses or people you may know are a common type of cybercrime, according to hrp’s fraud unit.
“these types of scams can be classified as ‘phishing’ or ‘smishing,’ which are types of cyberattacks. both forms of scams appear to come from a legitimate source and create a sense of urgency, pressuring the user to click on malicious links or call a fraudulent number. the links further prompt the user to provide personal or sensitive information such as passwords and credit card information. for example, receiving a shipping notification with an ‘invoice attachment’ or link to track an item you did not order would be a potential phishing scam.”
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another text message purportedly from bell mobility tells the recipient their account has not been updated and action is required. the text starts, “bell mess: your account has not been updated with the payment method you used.” a link is provided and “to avoid the suspension of your account and take advantage of our service, please visit.”
a fraudulent parking notice has also been circulating, telling people they have a past-due violation on file that needs to be handled, otherwise, collection proceedings will be initiated.
one poster on reddit said they had received offers of gifts from canadian tire, caa, home depot and fedex, noting “the scammers are busy this time of the year.”
cromwell said it is important for people to be diligent in handling unsolicited texts and emails.
“police remind people to be suspicious of any emails, texts or calls asking for money and to make sure the person or business is legitimate before providing any money or information.”
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