Area residents are being advised of an email phishing campaign making the rounds.
Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails claiming to be from reputable organizations, in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, or click on links that may contain malicious software.
The warning comes from the County of Elgin and the Municipality of Central Elgin.
An advisory sent Friday notes a number of emails have been circulating in the community that appear to be coming from either the county or Central Elgin.
The CAOs of both municipalities recommend caution be exercised when opening emails and associated attachments from any source.
Available options include the following:
Carefully check to make sure that the email address and sender’s name match.
Refrain from clicking on suspicious links.
Refrain from opening unexpected attachments.
Do not provide personal information in emails.
If an email seems suspicious, immediately delete it from your inbox.
If you suspect fraudulent email activity, it is also recommended to report details to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre collects information on fraud, identity theft, and scams affecting Canadians.
Written by Ian McCallum
