New Brunswickers are being targeted by fake Interac e-Transfer notifications. These phishing scams are trying to get your personal and financial information, or install malware on your computer or mobile device.
How to recognize a fake Interac e-Transfer notification
Fake Interac e-Transfer notifications may include one or more of the following characteristics:
- Attachments: Interac does not send email attachments with their e-transfer notifications. If the email has attachments, it is fraudulent.
- It comes from the Canada Revenue Agency: The CRA does not us e-transfers to send or receive payments
- It says they’re holding money in escrow: Interac does not offer escrow services – these messages are fraudulent.
- You weren’t expecting it: If you receive an e-transfer notification when you weren’t expecting payment or money transfer, contact the sender through another channel to verify they are really sending you money.
- It’s sent from someone you don’t know: If you don’t know the sender, delete the message.
- There’s a generic greeting: Phishing emails are not personalized, and use generic greeting such as “Hi,” or “Dear Customer”.
Examples:
What to do if you receive a fake Interac e-Transfer notification
- Do not download any attachments. Interac does not send email attachments with their e-transfer notifications.
- If you receive an e-transfer notification you were not expecting, try to contact the sender separately through a different communication channel to confirm they are really trying to transfer money to you.
- If you receive an email stating that the CRA is trying to send you money or verify personal information, do not respond. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does NOT use the Interac e-Transfer service to receive or send payments.
- Report it, and then delete the message.
Where to report a fake Interac e-Transfer notification
Forward any email or text message that you suspect may be a fraudulent Interac e-Transfer to phishing@interac.ca
If you think you have been a victim of this scam, Interac suggests that you contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Learn more about how to report fraud and where to report fraud.
FAQs
You weren't expecting it: If you receive an e-transfer notification when you weren't expecting payment or money transfer, contact the sender through another channel to verify they are really sending you money. It's sent from someone you don't know: If you don't know the sender, delete the message.
How to tell a fake Interac e-Transfer? ›
If you do receive an e-transfer, it's going to be a legitimate email from Interac that requires you to accept the funds. A fake email or text will likely be from a different address and have wording that is different from that of a legitimate message. It will also likely have spelling errors.
Does Interac e-Transfer send text messages? ›
When you send money using Interac e-Transfer, your money doesn't actually travel by email or text message – just the notifications and deposit instructions.
Is notify payments Interac legit? ›
You'll receive an email or a text (SMS) notification that informs you of the transaction. Be sure to stay vigilant for potential scams. To verify that an email notification is legitimate, it will contain the sender's full legal name and notify@payments.interac.ca in the email field.
How do I report phishing to Interac? ›
Phishing attempts can be forwarded to our Fraud team at phishing@interac.ca for further investigation. As an alternative, you may copy and paste the notification into the text box below and provide any other related details.
Does Interac send reminders? ›
6. Does the recipient get a reminder to deposit their INTERAC e-Transfer†? The recipient will receive email or SMS reminder of the outstanding transfer 7 days after it has been sent, then again at 14, 21 and 28. After 30 days, the transfer will expire and the recipient will no longer be able to deposit the funds.
Can someone take back an Interac e-Transfer? ›
You can cancel an Interac e-Transfer transaction you made through online banking if the recipient has not accepted the transfer and deposited the funds into their account. Once you've cancelled the transaction, the funds will be returned to your account.
Does Interac e-Transfer work in the US? ›
Interac e-Transfer is not available in the United States but it is possible to send money from a Canadian bank to the U.S. via Interac's partnership with MasterCard and Western Union.
How do I find out who sent my Interac e-Transfer? ›
When someone sends you money via Interac e-Transfer, you will receive an email or text message that a transfer has been sent to you. The notification includes information such as: Sender's name. Transfer amount.
Can you trace an Interac e-Transfer? ›
To check the status of any Interac e-Transfers that you've sent: From your Accounts page, select Move money. Select Interac e-Transfer. Select Transfer History to access your pending Interac e-Transfers.
The Interac® verification service uses strong security protocols to protect your personal information and does not have access to your banking information.
What is the text from 100001 e-transfer? ›
Is it legitimate? Yes. 100001 is the short code address used to send all Interac e-Transfer text notifications (transfer receipt notifications, reminders, etc.).
How to receive an e-transfer by text? ›
How to receive an Interac e-transfer
- Review the Interac e-transfer text message or email alert and read it carefully to make sure it isn't fraudulent.
- Follow the instructions in the message to select your financial institution and log into your account.
- Enter the security answer set up by the sender, if applicable.
Only click on the links in Interac notifications from senders you know and requests you were expecting. When using the Request Money feature, Interac does provide the name of individuals and businesses for Request Money transfers in the notifications which can help you determine if the notification is legitimate.
What if I accidentally respond to a phishing email? ›
Contact the company or organization. If you responded to a phishing email that appeared to be from a trusted source, contact the company or organization to alert them. They may be able to take steps to prevent other customers or employees from falling victim to the same scam.
Can you get money back from Etransfer if scammed? ›
Use vigilance at all times – remember, once an Interac e-Transfer transaction is accepted by the recipient it cannot be reversed. For more information on Interac e-Transfer, please visit interac.ca/etransfer.
How do I find out where an e-transfer came from? ›
Select History from the Interac e-Transfer® menu options on the left. Select the appropriate tab (Money Sent, Money Received, or Money Requested) to view completed or pending transactions. Select the individual transaction for more details.
Can a scammer reverse a bank transfer? ›
Scammers have received the money, transferred it to another account, and disappeared. Falling victim to phishing, pharming, or CEO fraud unfortunately doesn't qualify for reversing a wire transfer.
