The City of Burnaby is advising residents and businesses to be vigilant after becoming aware of an impersonation scam in which a third party attempted to direct payment of a fraudulent invoice to an email account not associated with the City.
In this instance, a client of the City was contacted by someone falsely claiming to represent the City and was asked to pay an invoice to a third party. The City became aware of the matter before any payment was made.
Out of an abundance of caution, the City is sharing this information publicly to help others recognize and avoid similar scams. The matter has been referred to the RCMP for investigation.
How impersonation scams work
Impersonation scams may involve emails, letters, phone calls or websites that appear legitimate but are designed to trick individuals or businesses into sending money or sharing sensitive information. These scams often use official looking logos, familiar names and urgent language to pressure recipients into acting quickly.
How to protect yourself
The City encourages the public to take the following steps to reduce the risk of fraud:
- Verify before you pay
If you receive an invoice or payment request that seems unexpected, unusual or urgent, contact the organization directly using a phone number or email address you already know and trust—not the contact information provided in the message. - Check email addresses and sender details carefully
Fraudulent messages often use addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones but may include extra characters, misspellings or unfamiliar domains. - Be cautious of payment method changes
Be especially wary of requests to change payment methods, banking details or to make payments to new or third-party accounts. - Confirm websites are legitimate
Look for trusted web addresses and avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. When in doubt, manually type the organization’s official website into your browser. - Watch for pressure tactics
Scammers often create a sense of urgency or claim consequences if immediate action is not taken.
How to report
Report scam messages to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to help government agencies learn more about the nature of these incidents. If you live in Burnaby, you can also report scams by calling the Burnaby RCMP non-emergency line at 604-646-9999.