Nova Scotia Power Customer Falls Victim to Elaborate Phone Scam
A West Hants resident, Drew Kaulback, recently found himself entangled in a sophisticated phone scam when he attempted to pay his Nova Scotia Power bill. Searching online for the utility’s phone number, Kaulback unknowingly fell into a trap set by scammers.
Upon calling a toll-free number that appeared as the top search result, Kaulback was greeted by a scammer posing as a Nova Scotia Power representative. The fraudster, armed with private information about Kaulback’s account, successfully convinced him to disclose his credit card details for payment.
However, Kaulback’s suspicions were aroused when the scammer requested approval for a text message payment confirmation that never arrived. Sensing something amiss, Kaulback contacted his bank, only to discover that the pending transaction in U.S. funds was flagged as a fraudulent activity.
Nova Scotia Power’s social and digital adviser, Casey Spears, acknowledged the rising prevalence of fraudulent schemes targeting customers and assured that their cybersecurity team is actively addressing the issue.
Jeff Horncastle from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre emphasized the common practice of scammers paying to promote illegitimate websites in search engine results. He advised the public to exercise caution, verify links, and report any suspicious online activities.
In response to the incident, Google enforced its strict ad policies, removing deceptive ads and suspending associated accounts. Despite the close call, Kaulback is now diligently securing his accounts and warns others to exercise vigilance when dealing with phone transactions.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of staying vigilant in the face of increasingly sophisticated online scams. Take your time, verify sources, and report any suspicious activity to prevent falling victim to financial fraud and identity theft.
A West Hants resident, Drew Kaulback, recently found himself entangled in a sophisticated phone scam when he attempted to pay his Nova Scotia Power bill. Searching online for the utility’s phone number, Kaulback unknowingly fell into a trap set by scammers.
Upon calling a toll-free number that appeared as the top search result, Kaulback was greeted by a scammer posing as a Nova Scotia Power representative. The fraudster, armed with private information about Kaulback’s account, successfully convinced him to disclose his credit card details for payment.
However, Kaulback’s suspicions were aroused when the scammer requested approval for a text message payment confirmation that never arrived. Sensing something amiss, Kaulback contacted his bank, only to discover that the pending transaction in U.S. funds was flagged as a fraudulent activity.
Nova Scotia Power’s social and digital adviser, Casey Spears, acknowledged the rising prevalence of fraudulent schemes targeting customers and assured that their cybersecurity team is actively addressing the issue.
Jeff Horncastle from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre emphasized the common practice of scammers paying to promote illegitimate websites in search engine results. He advised the public to exercise caution, verify links, and report any suspicious online activities.
In response to the incident, Google enforced its strict ad policies, removing deceptive ads and suspending associated accounts. Despite the close call, Kaulback is now diligently securing his accounts and warns others to exercise vigilance when dealing with phone transactions.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of staying vigilant in the face of increasingly sophisticated online scams. Take your time, verify sources, and report any suspicious activity to prevent falling victim to financial fraud and identity theft.
