A recent incident in Petawawa where a business was scammed out of $2,000 in what is referred to as “spear phishing fraud” has prompted Pembroke Fire Chief Scott Selle to warn businesses and households to use caution when such fraudulent activity occurs.
Police say the suspect posed as a fire and safety inspector and asked a business employee to provide an advance payment for supplies required for an upcoming fire extinguisher inspection. The employee received a text message containing QR codes linked to cryptocurrency wallet addresses and was directed to a local business with a cryptocurrency ATM.
The caller also instructed the employee not to inform their manager. The employee complied and deposited the funds using the provided QR code. The Ontario Provincial Police say it is the third similar incident targeting Eastern Ontario businesses since early January.
Pembroke Fire Chief Scott Selle wants to remind residents that not all visits from fire inspectors are dubious and that these regular checks by bona fide professionals are crucial for maintenance and safety reasons.
Selle reminds residents that under no circumstances would a fire inspector ask for money for equipment, as these professionals know their jobs and perform them well within the bounds of the law.
Selle says the best way to ward off scammers is to ask for proper verification of who they are and to request any credentials they may have.
If anyone has doubts as to the legitimacy of a fire inspector, they are urged not to sign anything and to contact the Pembroke Fire Department right away for verification.