By Elke Porter | WBN News Global | May 2, 2025

George* (*name changed to protect the innocent) nearly fell for a phishing email claiming a Purolator parcel awaited him. Just before clicking the suspicious link, https://purolator.etcoqy.vip/ca, he paused, suspecting a scam.

Turning to ChatGPT for help, he pasted the email’s contents. The AI swiftly decoded it, identifying three telltale signs of fraud: the domain was not Purolator’s official site (purolator.com), the .vip extension is a red flag often used in phishing, and the sender’s phone number (+63 907 489 5350) originated from the Philippines, not Canada. Armed with this clarity, George avoided the trap, reported the email to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and learned to double-check suspicious links before acting.

Canadians are increasingly bombarded with fraudulent emails designed to steal money and personal information. Common scams include claims of winning a million dollars from an unknown benefactor, threats from the “Canada Revenue Agency” (CRA) about lawsuits or seized funds, and fake delivery notices from Purolator or Canada Post urging you to click a link to claim a parcel. These scams exploit trust in familiar brands and prey on fear or excitement.

What Are Some Typical Canadian Scams?

Phishing emails impersonating the CRA often demand immediate payment for fake tax debts or promise refunds via suspicious links. Delivery scams, like those mimicking Purolator or Canada Post, trick users into entering personal details on fraudulent websites to “release” a package. Lottery scams dangle fictitious winnings, requesting payment or data to “claim” the prize. In 2024, Canadians lost over $638 million to fraud, with phishing scams doubling from 2021 to 2022, per the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).

Another insidious scam targets Canadians by impersonating Best Buy, often through urgent emails or calls claiming an accidental $30,000 deposit was made to your account. Scammers, posing as Best Buy employees, plead that they’ll lose their job unless you return the funds immediately, typically via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. They escalate fear with threats of arrest or lifelong imprisonment if you don’t comply, leveraging urgency to cloud judgment.

A 2022 case saw an elderly Vancouver woman lose $60,000 to a similar Best Buy scam after a fake refund pop-up led to a coerced $44,000 wire transfer and $20,000 cash shipment. Best Buy warns that legitimate refunds never require such payments, and official communications avoid threats or unofficial channels like WhatsApp. Always verify claims through Best Buy’s official site (bestbuy.com) or customer service (1-800-433-5778), and report suspicious contacts to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

Immediate Actions to Take

  1. Stop All Contact and Payments:
  2. Watch for recovery scams, where fraudsters pose as lawyers or agencies offering to retrieve your money for an upfront fee.

Cease communication with the scammer immediately. Do not send additional funds, even if they promise recovery or threaten legal action (e.g., Best Buy claiming you’ll be fired or jailed for not returning $30,000). These are tactics to deepen the scam.

Signs of a Scam

  • Urgency: Demands to act quickly, often with threats of arrest or loss.
  • Suspicious Links: URLs like “purolator.etcoqy.vip” instead of “purolator.com.”
  • Unusual Sender: Emails from random domains, not official CRA or company addresses.
  • Poor Grammar: Subtle errors or inconsistent branding, though scams are getting slicker.
  • Requests for Personal Info: Asking for Social Insurance Numbers, banking details, or payments via cryptocurrency or gift cards.

What NOT to Do

  • Never click links in unsolicited emails.
  • Don’t share personal or financial information.
  • Avoid sending money, especially via untraceable methods like Bitcoin.
  • Don’t trust caller ID or email addresses—scammers spoof them.

Notable Losses

While specific 2025 cases are emerging, historical data shows thousands lose millions annually. In 2022, 57,000 Canadians reported $531 million in fraud losses, with many tied to phishing emails.

Recovery Options

Recovering millions is difficult, as scammers often move funds quickly or use untraceable methods like cryptocurrency. However, explore these avenues:

  1. Bank and Payment Reversals:
  2. Legal Action:
  3. Insurance and Tax Relief:

Tax Implications: If you withdrew from a tax-advantaged account (e.g., RRSP) to pay scammers, you may owe taxes on the distribution. Consult a tax professional to explore deductions or relief. In the U.S., a 2017 tax law change removed fraud loss deductions, and Canada has similar limits, so act quickly to amend filings.

Insurance: Check if your homeowner’s or identity theft insurance covers fraud losses. Some policies reimburse principal investments or identity theft expenses, though not expected profits.

If the fraud is part of a larger scheme, you may join a class-action lawsuit or submit a claim to a court-appointed receiver in a government case. Check with the Canadian Securities Administrators (securities-administrators.ca) for investment-related fraud.

Consult a lawyer specializing in financial fraud to explore civil lawsuits, arbitration, or mediation. Be cautious of high fees and verify the lawyer’s credentials through your provincial law society (e.g., Law Society of Ontario at lso.ca). Civil suits can be costly and slow, with no guaranteed recovery if the scammer is insolvent.

Cryptocurrency: Crypto payments, often demanded in urgent scams, are nearly impossible to recover unless the recipient voluntarily returns funds. Report to the platform (e.g., Coinbase) and the CAFC.

Bank Transfers: For wire transfers (common in Best Buy scams), contact your bank within 2–4 days. Some banks may reverse transfers if caught early, though success is rare.

Credit/Debit Card Transactions: If you paid via credit card, request a chargeback through your card issuer. Chargebacks can recover funds for non-delivered goods or services, but time limits apply (typically 120 days).

Verify and Report

Report scams: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or 1-888-495-8501

Verify delivery notices: purolator.com or canadapost.ca

Check CRA communications: canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html

Stay vigilant. If it sounds too good or too urgent, it’s likely a scam.

#Canadian Scams, #Phishing Awareness, #Email Fraud, #CRA Scam
#Purolator Scam, #Cyber Safety, #Fraud Prevention, #Scam Alert #WBN News Global #Elke Porter

Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp:  +1 604 828 8788

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