NEWS RELEASE WELLINGTON COUNTY OPP
(CENTRE WELLINGTON, ON) – Phishing text message scams are targeting members of the community, and the Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wants the public to be aware.
On December 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the Wellington OPP responded to the report of a phishing scam in Elora.
The victim reported receiving a text message from an individual claiming to work for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The text message included a link to a website, where the victim entered their personal details including, banking information, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and their driver’s licence information.
Thankfully, the victim realized their mistake before any money was lost. They reported the incident to the police, cancelled their bank cards and contacted Service Canada.
The Wellington OPP is warning the public to be very cautious of unsolicited emails, text messages and phone calls. These communications are often malicious attempts to steal financial or personal information, and, in some cases, they may contain a harmful virus.
What are Phishing Scams?
Phishing involves deceptive emails, text messages or phone calls, claiming to be from a legitimate organization, attempting to trick the receiver into providing personal or financial information, click on a harmful link or download an attachment.
Fraudsters often impersonate trusted organizations to deceive the public. Common examples include the CRA, ServiceOntario, utility providers, and cell phone companies. Others may claim you owe fees, such as a 407 ETR toll or an overdue parking ticket-even if you haven’t used the highway in ages or have no outstanding violations.
These communications often mimic the logo, branding and tone of an organization and typically include a call to action. While they come in many forms, the ultimate goal is to obtain your personal details.
Tips to protect yourself:
- Know that a reputable organization will never ask for your personal information through text or email.
- Ignore communications from unknown contacts.
- Delete suspicious messages, as they can carry viruses
- Don’t reply to any spam messages – even to unsubscribe.
- Don’t open any attachments or follow any links.
- Keep your antivirus software updated.
- Never use the phone number or email address provided in a suspicious message – check verified websites for contact information instead.
For more information on scams and frauds, the public is encouraged to read The Little Black Book of Scams, which can be found online:
https://www.competitionbureau.
If you are the recipient of a fraudulent call, text, or email, or if you have been a victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit http://www.
