Is this a scam?
Got a strange call, text, email, or popup? Answer a few quick questions and we will tell you if it has the signs of a scam, and what to do next.
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Free tool from easyTech Durham. Takes about 1 minute.
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How to spot a scam, in plain sight
Most scams, whether they arrive by phone, text, email, or at your front door, share the same handful of pressure tactics. They create urgency: act today, pay now, your account will be closed, your licence will be suspended. They ask for payment in ways no real organization uses, like gift cards, prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, or an e-transfer to a stranger. And they ask you to keep things secret, because a quick chat with a family member or your bank would unravel the whole story.
The second giveaway is what they ask for. Your bank will never ask for your PIN, a one-time code from your phone, or remote access to your computer. The CRA does not send refunds by text. Microsoft does not put phone numbers in virus warnings. Police do not collect bail by gift card. Any one of these requests, on its own, is enough reason to stop and verify through a number you find yourself, on a bill, a card, or the company's real website.
Our checker above walks you through these questions one at a time. If you would rather see what is circulating locally first, the Durham Region Scam Alert Board lists the scams reported in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, and across the GTA right now, updated monthly. And if something has already gone wrong, our Scam Recovery service can secure your accounts and limit the damage, often the same day.