Fraudulent Email, What to Do: How to Spot a Scam Posing as Your Bank or Hydro-Québec
In short
Got a fraudulent email and aren't sure what to do? Don't click any links, don't reply, and don't download any attachments. Always check by going directly to your bank's or Hydro-Québec's official website, never through a link in the message you received…
The telltale signs of a fraudulent email
A fake email posing as a bank or Hydro-Québec often shares the same features. Here's what should raise a red flag.
- An urgent tone demanding immediate action, often with a threat, such as a service cutoff or a blocked account
- A request for personal, confidential, or financial information, like a card number or password
- A link that leads to a page resembling the real site, but with a slightly different web address
- An unexpected attachment, especially if you don't recognize the sender
- Spelling or grammar mistakes, or a layout that looks sloppy
No legitimate institution will ever ask for your password or card number by email.
How to verify a message that looks official
The best way to check a suspicious email is to never use the links or phone numbers it contains. Instead, open your browser and type in your bank's or Hydro-Québec's official address yourself. You can also call the customer service number printed on your latest bill or on your bank card. If the message is genuine, the information will also show up in your official online account.
What you should never do
Some reactions feel natural, but they actually increase the risk.
- Never click on a link in a suspicious email
- Don't reply, even just to say you don't want to receive anything
- Don't open any attachment, even if it's named something familiar like "invoice" or "statement"
- Never give your banking information over the phone to a number received by email
When in doubt, it's always better to do nothing than to click too quickly.
What to do if you've already clicked or responded
If you clicked on a link, opened an attachment, or gave out information, act quickly. Change the passwords on the accounts involved, contact your financial institution to monitor your transactions, and keep a copy of the email so you can report it. This is exactly the kind of situation where Rupert's hacked device or account security service, fraud and phishing prevention, can help, in Montreal as well as elsewhere in Greater Montreal. A technician comes to your home to check your device, secure your accounts, and walk you through the next steps, in plain language.
Getting in-home support in Greater Montreal
Many seniors would rather have a real person check the situation than try to guess on their own in front of a screen. Rupert comes to your home for a one-hour visit, booked online or by phone. Before the visit, a technician calls to understand the issue, then comes to your home. After the visit, you're left with simple notes on what was done and a few tips to prevent it from happening again. A child can also book a visit for a parent, directly from the booking page. The service covers Montreal, Laval, the South Shore, and the North Shore; you can check your area on the service area page.
For seniors' residences
Management teams at seniors' residences face the same type of fraudulent emails, but on a larger scale. Rupert's In-Residence program offers on-site support for residents, available by quote, and helps with digital fraud prevention right where residents live. It's a concrete way to equip residents without requiring them to travel anywhere.
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