'I'm still in shock': Brampton, Ont. landlord caught in e-transfer interception fraud
A Brampton, Ont. landlord says he's shocked after two e-transfers he was meant to receive were blocked from his account by scammers.
"I'm still in shock," Jai Walia, of Brampton, told CTV News Toronto. Walia is a landlord of two units, and he asks his tenants to pay their rent using e-transfers.
In September, Walia was expecting two rent payments of $2,000 and $2,500. Even though the tenants sent him money, Walia said he never received their payment in his bank account.
Walia found out his email account had been hacked and he was the victim of a scam called Interac e-transfer interception fraud.
Walia said he does not use autodeposit and instead uses security questions. It appears criminals used his email to open up a bank account and set up autodeposit, so any money sent to Walia would automatically go into the scammers' account instead.
"How can one single email be used by two single individuals, which have no connections at all," said Walia. "I feel scared what if this happens again by other means."
Nick Biasini, cybersecurity expert with Cisco Talos, said it is equally important to protect your email address as it is to protect passwords for bank accounts and credit cards.
"Don't discount the importance of your email," said Biasini, who added that a fraudster can see any service an individual has signed up for once they hack into an email address account.
"If your adversary is in your email inbox, it makes it very easy for them to start resetting every password that you have and they will be the ones getting those reset links," said Biasini.
To prevent Interac e-transfer fraud, turn on autodeposit, which Interac says is secure and convenient. Autodeposit helps protect against e-mail fraud, it verifies transactions are sent to the intended recipient and the money is automatically deposited without security questions.
In the end, one of Walia’s tenants got their money back and paid the rent, but the other remains scammed out of $2,000.
Walia has since has changed his account to autodeposit to prevent this from happening again.
"I feel sorry for anyone out there who is getting scammed because of these culprits," said Walia.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promoting backbenchers in sizable cabinet shuffle coming Friday: sources
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning a sizable cabinet shuffle on Friday, and it's shaping up to see several Liberal backbenchers promoted to ministerial posts, sources confirm to CTV News.
Prime minister's team blindsided by Freeland's resignation: source
The first time anyone in the senior ranks of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office got any indication Chrystia Freeland was about to resign from cabinet was just two hours before she made the announcement on social media, a senior government source tells CTV News.
'Tragic and sudden loss': Toronto police ID officer who died after suspected medical episode while on duty
A police officer who died after having a suspected medical episode on duty was executing a search warrant in connection with an ongoing robbery investigation in North York, Toronto police confirmed Thursday.
Ontario town seeks judicial review after being fined $15K for refusing to observe Pride Month
An Ontario community fined $15,000 for not celebrating Pride Month is asking a judge to review the decision.
The Royal Family spreads holiday cheer with new Christmas cards
The Royal Family is spreading holiday cheer with newly released Christmas cards.
Who received the longest jail terms in the Gisele Pelicot rape trial?
A French court found all 51 defendants guilty on Thursday in a mass rape case including Dominique Pelicot, who repeatedly drugged his then wife, Gisele, and allowed dozens of strangers into the family home to rape her.
Youth support worker found guilty of sexually assaulting B.C. boy in government care
A former youth support worker has been convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in B.C. government care – an incident that followed months of secret hangouts and shirtless massages that were in clear violation of his employer's policies.
W5 Investigates Provinces look to Saskatchewan on how to collect millions more for victims of crime
A W5 investigation showed how convicted criminals ordered to pay restitution struggled to do so, and how just $7 million of more than $250 million had been claimed. While many provinces struggle to keep track, Saskatchewan is leading the way in making sure victims get their money.
'Theodore Too' refloated after partial sinking in St. Catharines
The life-size replica of Theodore Tugboat, Theodore TOO, is upright again after suffering a partial sinking Tuesday.