Fraudsters target Timmins businesses with online payment scam

Timmins police say that in the past six months, multiple complaints have come in from local businesses who said they’re getting scammed out of money.

The Timmins Police Service said that in the past six months, multiple complaints have come in from local businesses that said they’re getting scammed out of money.

Police officials said one of the biggest red flags to watch for is an email from a well-known supplier or a contractor saying they’ve changed their method of payment.

Once a victim makes the changes, money is funneled to the scammer’s account, but the business thinks it’s paying a bill.

Realize what happened too late

Timmins police said some local businesses have been defrauded out of several thousand dollars -- and don’t realize what’s happened until they’re reminded to pay their bill.

“When you get an email or a request to change payment information, contact the company directly using the number that you’re familiar with and ask to verify that they are, in fact, changing accounts,” said Det. Sgt. Kathryn Beatty.

“We have seen where the fraudsters are changing the contact numbers, so when the company calls, they believe that they’re speaking to a legitimate company.”

Beatty said several investigations are ongoing. She wouldn’t say which companies have been targeted, but said they are ones that deal with large financial transactions, such as construction and HVAC companies.

She added that it’s a difficult process to trace the funds and get restitution for victims.