Edmonton police warn of Kijiji, Facebook marketplace fake e-transfer scams

 

Edmonton police are warning buyers and sellers of products through online platforms to be aware of scams. The Edmonton Police Service says fake e-transfer fraud is rampant, with four complaints reported this month alone. People who transact through Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are getting scammed more and more. When making a sale you will receive an e-mail that looks like a legitimate transaction. But the police say that this could be a scam and one should be very cautious in online sales and purchases.

Clicking on the link to deposit funds will take you to a fake bank-like website. Once the username and password are given here, the fraudsters will get it. They also get immediate access to online banking, EPS said in a news release. Edmonton police recorded a loss of more than $6,700 due to such scams from the beginning of November to the 27th.

Edmonton Police Financial Crimes Unit Detective Linda Herceg says fraud is a serious problem and difficult to track. If a victim of e-transfer fraud, Herzeg recommends following up with the bank to ensure the account is locked down before reporting the information to the police. Anyone who has lost money or personal information through fraud can report it to police at 780-423-4567, EPS said.