Ottawa residents should think twice before joining an unexpected video call, after the Ontario Provincial Police issued a warning about fraudsters using platforms like Zoom to trick victims out of their money.
What happened
OPP say a resident recently fell victim to a scam that unfolded over a Zoom meeting, part of a growing trend of fraudsters using legitimate video conferencing tools to appear credible. Police did not specify the exact location of the victim, but the warning was issued province wide, meaning Ottawa households are just as much a target as anyone else in Ontario.
Scammers posing as bank officials, tech support workers, or even law enforcement have increasingly turned to video calls to add a layer of legitimacy to their schemes. Seeing a "real" person on screen, sometimes using a fake background or spoofed caller ID, can make a scam feel far more convincing than a phone call or email ever could.
Why Ottawa should pay attention
Ottawa has not been immune to fraud trends in recent years. Local police and Ontario-wide bodies have repeatedly flagged phishing texts, fake CRA calls, and romance scams hitting the capital's residents, particularly seniors. With Ottawa home to a large population of federal government workers and retirees, a demographic that fraudsters often single out for its perceived trust in official-looking communication, this latest warning is especially relevant.
Ottawa police have previously reminded residents that legitimate government agencies, banks, and utility companies do not request personal information, passwords, or payment through unsolicited video calls or links sent over chat. If a video call arrives out of the blue asking to share your screen, log into a banking app, or provide identifying documents, that is a major red flag.
How to protect yourself
OPP recommend a few basic precautions for anyone contacted through an unexpected video meeting:
- Never share personal or financial information on a call you did not initiate
- Hang up and call the organization back directly using a number from their official website
- Be wary of urgency or pressure tactics, scammers often push victims to act immediately
- Verify the identity of anyone requesting screen sharing or remote access to your device
Residents who believe they have been targeted by a similar scam are encouraged to report it to their local police service or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
As video calls become a more common part of everyday communication, from banking to virtual doctor visits, Ottawa residents should treat unexpected video meeting invites with the same caution they would apply to a suspicious email or phone call.
Source: Global News Ottawa
