Dealing with hi-tech fraudsters
by Kristine Berey
Banks have come a long way in protecting themselves against robberies, and as a result, there are fewer hold-ups than ever before. But it’s not all good news, say Christiane Labelle, administrative assistant at Caisse Desjardins, and Raymond Chouinard, of RBC.
Apparently, bank robbers have gone hi-tech and now defraud accounts through the Internet, in a practice known as “phishing.”
Typically, thousands of emails are sent out to unsuspecting targets, bearing a legitimate-looking logo and sometimes the actual phone number of the bank. Recipients are asked to click on a link in order to update or verify their account. “They send the emails on a Sunday so you don’t have a chance to call the bank and speak to them about it,” says Chouinard. If you receive any e mail from what appears to be your bank, don’t click on the link, Chouinard warns. “By clicking on the link, even if you don’t divulge any information, you let the fraudster know that you are a valid client of that bank, and you signal them to send you messages again and again,” Chouinard says.
Even the bank doesn’t know what your Personal Identification Number is, says Labelle. And they would never ask you to share it. “A financial institution will never ask for personal information through the internet or by telephone,” Labelle says.
To be safe, always check your monthly transactions when you get your statements. If you discover a transaction you didn’t make, report it to your bank promptly. And never, never give out your PIN number to anyone. “It is your personal signature, you’re the only one in the world who knows what it is,” Labelle says. “Never give it out!”
