'CEO scam' latest online fraud, say Nova Scotia RCMP

RCMP in Nova Scotia say everything that's old is new again when it comes to an email scam making the rounds in the province.

Sometimes referred to as the "CEO scam," fraudsters pose as the boss of a companyand contact itsfinancial administrators using a fake email address.

The staff are then instructed to wire money to a bank account using bogus sender information.

RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said this is an old scam that has come around again and someone in the Bridgewater area was swindled in February.

"They'll be asking you to send money and it's generally a fraud scam," she said.

Harder to recognize scam emails

Police on Prince Edward Island recently warned residents there of a similar scam targeting Island businesses.

Clarke said it's getting more and more difficult to recognize scam emails.

"It looks like an email from a reputable business or organization that you generally deal with, but if you look very, very closely at the email there, at the pictures or logos, or whatever on the email, something about it will appear not quite right," she said.

RCMP said businesses and individuals can protect themselves by never sending money without confirming the identity of the recipient by voice or in-person.

They also suggest calling the sender of any email that asks for money.

"There's something there that will tweak your Spidey senses into thinking something isn't quite right," Clarke said.

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