The federal agency created to combat money laundering, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), is warning about an email fraud being carried out in its name.
FINTRAC, which is an independent agency created to fight money laundering and the terrorism financing, has issued an alert about an email fraud.
The alert warns that fraudulent emails, purporting to be from FINTRAC, are requesting payment for administrative monetary penalties.
“If you receive one of these emails, please be aware that it is a fraud and no payment should be sent based on this email solicitation,” it says.
The agency notes that its name has occasionally been used for fraudulent letters, emails, social media accounts and faxed documents. It stresses that it does not charge fees, freeze or seize funds, or issue clearance certificates for any reason.
“Solicitations for fees and clearance certificates made in the name of or on behalf of FINTRAC are false and should be viewed with extreme caution,” it says. And, it recommends that anyone who has been solicited for fees on behalf of FINTRAC should contact local police.
It also says that any communications from social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, should be treated with extreme caution; and it warns that the links that they contain may be malicious.