PHISHING ALERT! A rapidly growing form of Internet fraud is a practice known as "PHISHING" (email) or "VISHING" (phone calls). This fraud can lead to financial loss and identity theft.

How does it work?
Online thieves send out e-mails or using automated dialers to randomly call out. They appear to originate from legitimate companies. The e-mail or voice messages direct victims to visit fraudulent look-alike websites or to call a number using a number of bogus excuses and claims such as "our servers were down" or "banking system was compromised" etc. The victim is asked to enter personal and financial information either by clicking on a link in an email or by calling another number. Because the PHISH sites or VISH calls (voice) calls look and sound entirely legitimate and the request appears to be coming from a trusted financial institution or credit card company, victims enter their credit card numbers, Social Insurance Numbers (SINs), bank account information and address, phone number and e-mail details. Any information entered into the PHISH site or VISH phone number is captured by a crook that will steal the victim’s identity to acquire new credit cards, redirect mail and open bank accounts in the victim’s name.

Teach yourself, your friends and family "PHISH" sense;

  • Be suspicious of any e-mail or phone calls with urgent requests for personal financial information. A reputable financial institution like Community Savings or credit card company will not request personal or financial information over the phone or by email. If you receive this type of e-mail or phone call, simply ignore it (do not respond!) and notify us 604- 654-2000, 1-888-963 2000 or 250-385-8431.
  • Don't use web page links in an e-mail if you suspect the message, e-mail or website might not be authentic.
  • Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that ask for personal financial information. Always ensure you're using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information through your browser.
  • Check your bank, credit and debit card statements to ensure all transactions are legitimate.
  • Purchase software that helps detect phishing attempts like Spy Sweeper or use the most current internet browsers like Internet Explorer 7.0.