Officers across the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently investigating multiple instances of cellphone service provider fraud and are reminding the public to remain cautious of unsolicited phone calls.
What does this fraud involve?
Fraudsters are impersonating telecommunications company representatives and contacting individuals with offers of a free or heavily discounted cellphone as part of a promotional program. Victims are persuade d to accept the offer and provide information required to process the order.
Once the device is delivered, the victim discovers that the device was financed under their own account and that they are responsible for the associated payments. The fraudsters then instruct the victim to return, surrender, or transfer the phone to a third party due to an alleged error, so they can fix the financing issue and apply the promotional offer properly.
The promised refunds, account credits, or promotional benefits are never received. As a result, victims are left financially responsible for the financed device while the fraudsters retain possession of the phone.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre suggests the following to help prevent against falling victim to this type of fraud.
What are the warning signs?
You receive an unexpected call, text message or email offering a discount, upgraded plan or new device.
The person pressures you to act quickly or says the offer is only available for a limited time.
You are asked to log in to your cellphone account while the caller stays on the line.
You are asked for your account password, security code, PIN, or multi-factor authentication code.
You are asked to provide a driver’s licence, Social Insurance Number (SIN), or other identification.
You are told to open an account with a different service provider.
You receive a cellphone or tablet and are told to send it to an address provided by the caller.
The return address is different from the verified address of the service provider.
How can you protect yourself?
If someone contacts you claiming to be from your service provider, end the call and contact the company directly.
Use the telephone number on your bill, account, or the company’s official website.
Do not use contact information provided by the caller.
Never share passwords, PINs, security codes, or multi-factor authentication codes.
Do not provide personal or financial information during an unexpected call, text message, or email.
Do not log in to your account while an unknown caller is guiding you.
Before opening a new account or accepting a device, confirm the offer directly with the service provider.
If you receive a device that you did not order, contact the service provider directly and confirm the correct return process.
Never ship a cellphone or tablet to an address provided by an unknown caller.
The OPP urges individuals and business es to remain vigilant to instances of fraud.
Remember to carefully verify and confirm the legitimacy of any information before following through, even if it appears to come from a trusted source.
If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or online at https://reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.
To learn more about fraud prevention and how to keep yourself protected, please visit: www.opp.ca/fraud and https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/protect-protegez-eng.htm.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
