Global Scam Watch

06/02/2026

This is an interesting low tech scam which seems to be going around. The simple solution is to wait for your receipt before you drive off, so you don't get screwed at the pump twice.

05/31/2026

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

Artists on social media are being targeted by a scam making the rounds, and I want other creatives to recognize the pattern before they get hurt.

The approach is a textbook version of a well-documented con. The scammer finds artists through social media platforms, moves communication to email and WhatsApp, and requests a custom painting of a deceased pet. The emotional hook of a beloved animal who recently passed is deliberate. It builds rapport and makes the artist less likely to question what follows.

This is a variation of an old overpayment scam. The con artist reaches out requesting a portrait commission, usually of a pet, and often offers a flat fee higher than what would normally be charged. Once the painting is complete and shown to the client, the conversation shifts to a non-standard payment platform.

If an overpayment is involved, the scammer sends more than the agreed amount and then asks the artist to reimburse the difference. The original payment is fraudulent, meaning the artist ends up sending real money while receiving nothing.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿:

- Contact initiated through social media by a stranger
- Communication quickly moved off-platform to email and WhatsApp Business
- Emotional backstory involving a recently deceased pet
- Daily check-ins to maintain pressure and build false trust
- A non-standard payment platform introduced only after the work is completed

Artists who do pet portrait commissions are disproportionately targeted by these scammers. Genuine clients discuss what they want even when giving creative freedom. They do not simply leave everything to the artist and then immediately steer the conversation toward payment.

If you have encountered this pattern, do not send payment or refund any overpayment. Report it to your local police or your government's official anti-fraud organization. Be aware that recovery scammers actively target fraud victims by impersonating these very organizations, so verify any contact independently before engaging.

05/31/2026

Some pictures from the Free Community Safety / FireSmart Forum May 2026 held in South Surrey / White Rock today. Special thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors and of course those who attended and contributed some great questions.

Aside from Fraud / Scam awareness, the event had presentations and information from Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers | CDART - Southwest BC | FireSmart BC | PreparedBC | FireSmart Canada and a few others who sent us information pamphlets.

Attendees were treated to Italian Soda's and Sandwiches from Bosa Foods

The next event will be at the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody BC on September 12th 2026

If any local businesses want to get involved as sponsors, please feel free to reach out, you will be in amazing company.

05/30/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺

Phishing scams come in many forms, and attackers regularly swap out the bait. The latest version uses fake digital invitations to steal credentials or take over your computer entirely.

The setup is simple. An email or text arrives appearing to come from a legitimate invitation platform. Evite, Paperless Post, and Punchbowl are the most frequently impersonated. A friend's name is listed as the host. The design looks authentic. Security researchers tracked the campaign's infrastructure back to December 2025 and identified around 80 phishing domains and 160 suspicious links, all built to spoof familiar "Sign in with Google" and "Sign in with Microsoft" login screens. The Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert on May 26, 2026, flagging it as one of the more widespread phishing efforts currently circulating.

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗳𝘁

Some fake invitations ask you to enter your email username and password to view event details. Others ask for a phone number and a verification code to RSVP. Real invitation platforms do not work this way. Once scammers have your login, they search your email for banking details, initiate password resets, and intercept the login codes sent back to your now-compromised account.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲

A second variant goes further. Clicking the link redirects victims to download a file, often named something like RSVPPartyInvitationCard[.]msi. The page auto-triggers the download to reduce hesitation. The file is not an invitation. It installs ScreenConnect, a legitimate remote support tool, silently in the background. Once installed, attackers have the same level of access to the machine as a remote IT technician. The first signs are often unexplained cursor movement, windows opening on their own, or a software process the user does not remember installing.

𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀

- Any invitation asking you to log in before viewing it
- A prompt to enter a phone number and share a verification code to RSVP
- A link delivering a file download to view an invitation
- A sender address not matching the official platform domain
- Unexpected invitations from people you have not been in contact with recently

𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱

If you entered credentials, change your email password immediately, enable two-factor authentication, and check your financial accounts. Contact your bank right away if anything looks off.

If you downloaded and opened an attachment, disconnect from the internet and run a full malware scan. ScreenConnect installations persist and give attackers ongoing access, so consider getting professional help to confirm the machine is clean.

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

This particular scammer is pretending to be both the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as well as the Canadian bar association. The signs are fairly clear but are not always

05/27/2026

Just another recovery scammer, not the police and not even a lawyer, as the profile states.
Interesting how does a profile with only 2 posts obtain 1K followers 😂

05/26/2026

𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: 𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹

A new scam is circulating targeting artists and online sellers, impersonating law enforcement agencies including the FBI and other police authorities worldwide. If you or someone you know has received one of these emails, do not respond to it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲

The email claims to be from an officer or agent investigating fraudulent transactions linked to your account. It tells you your artwork or identity may have been used without your authorization, and asks you to cooperate with the investigation by submitting screenshots, payment records, usernames, and communication logs. The tone is official and urgent, and it may reference a named superior or authority figure to make it seem more credible.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀

Artists, crafters, and small online sellers are the primary targets because they regularly deal in online transactions, often with strangers, and are likely to have genuine anxiety about fraud accusations or losing access to selling platforms.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀

The entire purpose of this email is data harvesting. The scammers are not investigators; they are criminals fishing for your financial records, account credentials, and personal details. No legitimate law enforcement agency cold-contacts individuals by email with vague, unspecified fraud warnings. Any named officials in these emails are fictional, and the threats about platforms restricting your account exist solely to pressure you into responding before you have time to think it through.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼

Do not respond, do not send any documents or screenshots, and delete the email. If you want to report it, contact your local police or national cybercrime reporting body directly, and never use any contact information provided in the email itself.

Share this post to warn your network. These scams are carefully crafted to prey on the creative community.

05/26/2026

𝗕𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀.

These low life's love to troll our posts and the posts of other pages which discuss scams. They are looking to re-victimize the victims.

They may claim to have a contact in law enforcement or an "ethical hacker" who helped them, this is called a recovery scam, don't let them victimize you again
🛑 🤔