The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
RBC Financial Group is warning the public about a fraudulent e-mail that asks for personal banking information. The e-mail cautions RBC clients that, amid attempted identify thefts, they must confirm their banking details by clicking on a link within the message. "One of the things we continuously try to educate people on is that our bank, the same as any other bank, would never request information that is particular to a client online," said RBC spokesperson Beja Rodeck from her Toronto office. The e-mail has apparently been sent across Canada, and Rodeck assumes both RBC clients and non-clients have found it in their in-boxes. The Reminder was an attempted target of the scam, as the message from "[email protected]" showed up on the newspaper's e-mail Monday. "Dear valued RBC Royal Bank client," the message states. "Recently, there have been a large number of identity theft attempts targeting RBC Royal Bank customers. In order to safeguard your account we require that you confirm your personal details. This process is mandatory." The message then asks the reader to click onto a link and provide their banking information. "That is something that a legitimate organization like ours would never do," said Rodeck. Though the bank has fielded numerous calls over the fraudulent message, Rodeck wasn't aware of anyone falling for it. "I think people are becoming a little bit wiser and, rightfully so, more suspicious of these things," she said. RBC has informed both the RCMP and, because the scammers may be based in the U.S., the FBI. RBC asks clients to report any suspicious e-mails by calling 1-800-769-2555.
