Did Your Bank Really Text You?" — How Phishing Scams Work and How to Spot Them

Did Your Bank Really Text You?

If you live in Peterborough, you've probably gotten one this month. A text from "RBC" saying your account is locked. An email from "Amazon" about a package you never ordered. Maybe a note from "Service Canada" with a link to claim money.

They look real. The logo is right, the wording is right, and the timing always feels urgent. That's the point. These messages aren't really from your bank or Amazon — they're phishing scams, and they're one of the most common frauds targeting seniors in Canada.

How the scam works:

1. The message. A text or email arrives pretending to be someone you trust — your bank, a courier, Amazon, Service Canada, even a friend. There's always a reason to act fast: "suspicious activity," "your parcel is held," "your account will be locked."

2. The link. The message asks you to tap a link to "verify" or "fix" the problem. The link goes to a fake login page that looks exactly like the real website. Anything you type — username, password, card number — goes straight to the scammer.

3. The payoff. With your login details, they sign into your real account, change your password, and lock you out. Some versions don't need a password at all — they just ask you to reply with personal details, or the link installs malware on your phone.

Why it fools people:

Three reasons. First, the fakes are genuinely good — real logos, real-sounding language, sometimes even your name. Second, urgency short-circuits your thinking; when a message says your money is at risk, you stop reading carefully. Third, on a phone, the sender's real address is usually hidden — you see "RBC" on screen, not the random email address behind it. And sender names can be faked, so what's on the screen proves nothing.

What to do:

- Never tap the link in an unexpected message. If your bank really needs you, the message will also be waiting inside your banking app or on the real website. Open the app yourself or type the address yourself — never follow the link they sent.

- Check who it's really from. Tap the sender's name on your phone to reveal the full email address or number. Look for misspellings, random domains, or numbers that don't match the company. If the "bank" is texting from a regular 10-digit mobile number, that's a red flag.

- Slow down and verify another way. Call the company on a number you look up — never one from the message. And forward suspicious texts to 7726 (spells SPAM) so the carriers can block them.

When to call Guy:

If you already tapped a link and entered information, don't panic — but don't wait either. We help Peterborough customers figure out what got shared, change passwords safely, check the phone or computer for anything nasty, and report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501). And if you get a message and just can't tell whether it's real? Bring it to us — we'd rather confirm it's harmless than have you worry about it.

Why I'm writing this:

I diagnose, teach, and protect consumers and small businesses in Peterborough. Suspicious texts and emails are one of the top things our senior customers ask us about — and the pattern is always the same: the message looks official, the clock is ticking, and nobody told them what to look for.

So I made a free 8-page guide: 10 Scams Targeting Peterborough Seniors — the grandparent scam, the fake CRA call, phishing texts, fake bank calls, and six more, each with the signs to watch for and exactly what to do. No email signup, no catch — just download it and share it with someone you care about.

👉 Download the free guide here

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