Victoria, BC – Officers are warning members of community organizations after receiving reports of “phishing” style email fraud attempts targeting various Victoria community associations this week.
The “phishing” emails in this latest round of fraud attempts appear to attempt to exploit the publicly available contact information for board and other staff members. In one attempt, the scammers spoofed the email address and name of a treasurer, and directed another staff member to make an online payment. The astute members of this community organization spotted the scam and not only informed their staff, but those within the wider community association community.
If you are a member of a community organization, please speak with your staff and colleagues about fraud and these “phishing” style email scams. A strong protection against them is to enact a policy of follow-up in person or over the phone confirmation. Ensure your organization regularly reviews its finances and report any suspicious transactions to police.
For more information on “phishing” and other similar fraud attempts, please visit vicpd.ca/fraud.