NEWS RELEASE
THUNDER BAY POLICE SERVICE
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The Thunder Bay Police Service has received complaints regarding suspicious emails purporting to come from banks with instruction for the recipient to receive a COVID-19 relief payment.
If you receive such an email, DO NOT click any of the links attached to it. This is a phishing scam that is likely after your banking information or other personal information.
In one such complaint, the target received an email that appeared to be genuinely from the Royal Bank of Canada. The email claimed the recipient was entitled to a $1,200 “COVID-10 TREAS FUND” payment. The email also had links that promised the recipient instructions on how to finalize their payment.
If you are expecting a payment of any kind, don’t use links provided to you in emails. Instead, contact your bank independently and request instructions on how to get the funds you are expecting. You have the right to delete any suspicious email, hang up your phone or close your door to any suspected fraudsters.
And remember, if something sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Learn more about phishing scams and other types of fraud via the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
