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A wave of SMS phishing attacks targeting Canadians with lures regarding unpaid road toll fees have been rolling out since the beginning of the year. 407 ETR has been warning customers to beware of fraudulent texts impersonating the company. The message is designed to deceive people into clicking on a malicious link, which would leave people vulnerable to personal data theft.
407 ETR will use specific communication methods to interact with customers that use the express toll route. If you are a customer that uses the 407, take note of these legitimate communication channels:
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Richter Guardian gives you enterprise-level cybersecurity tailored for individuals, families, and executives.
Real estate wire fraud is a scam where criminals impersonate trusted parties to redirect money during a property transaction.
These transactions often involve large wire transfers, and time-sensitive communication between buyers, sellers, lawyers, real estate agents, title companies, notaries, and financial institutions.
Together, these factors make real estate transactions a prime target for fraud.
For high-net-worth individuals, and executives, the risks can be especially significant.
Property purchases and sales may involve large sums of money, multiple advisors, and sensitive personal or financial information. A single fraudulent email or payment can lead to substantial financial loss.
The most important rule is simple: before sending money, always verify wire instructions by phone using a trusted number you already have, not one provided in an email.
Real estate transactions remain a major target for fraud. In 2025, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported more than 12,000 real estate fraud complaints and over $275 million in reported losses. This was higher than 2024, when losses were about $173 million.
These losses show how common and damaging real estate fraud can be. In many cases, the victim believes they are sending funds to a legitimate party, only to discover that the money was redirected to a fraudulent account.
Attackers often begin by gaining access to an email account involved in the transaction or by impersonating one of the parties. They may silently monitor the conversation and wait for the right moment to intervene.
Once attackers understand the details of the deal, they send a convincing email with fraudulent bank details that redirect the money to the attacker. Attackers may impersonate any party involved in the transaction, such as a real estate agent, lawyer, title company representative, or even the buyer or seller themselves.
Because the attacker may know specifics like dollar amounts, property addresses, and names of people involved, the message can look legitimate, making the email extremely convincing.
The most effective protection is independent verification. Before sending any wire transfer, call the intended recipient using a trusted phone number that was provided in person, saved previously, or found through an independently verified source.
Do not rely on contact information included in an email containing wire instructions. If an attacker controls the email conversation, they may also provide a fake phone number to “confirm” the fraudulent details.
This is especially important as AI voice cloning becomes more convincing. A phone call is only useful if the number is trusted. When in doubt, use a number you already know or independently verify the number through an official website or previously established contact.
The same approach should be used for any high-value payment, account change, or request involving sensitive financial information.
Be cautious of:
- Last-minute changes to wire instructions
- Pressure to wire immediately
- Email addresses that look slightly off, such as ‘titlecompany.co’ instead of ‘titlecompany.com’
- Request to confirm payment details only via email
- Unusual urgency, secrecy, or changes in communication style
- New bank account details that were not previously discussed
However, a well-crafted attack may not include any obvious warning signs. Rather than trying to decide whether an email “looks suspicious”, treat all wire instructions as unverified until they are confirmed by phone using a trusted number.
Before sending funds, take these steps:
1. Confirm the wire instructions by phone using a known, trusted number.
2. Verify the recipient's name, bank name, account number, routing number, and payment amount.
3. Do not use phone numbers or links provided in the same email as the wire instructions.
4. Be especially cautious about last-minute changes.
5. If anything feels unusual, pause the transaction and contact your advisor, bank, or security team.
Richter Guardian can help reduce the risk of wire fraud through proactive monitoring, personal cybersecurity guidance, and expert support to secure accounts, devices, credentials, and identity-related information.
If you are unsure about a transaction, receive suspicious payment instructions, or want added protection before a high-value transfer, contact us.
Request a private consultation to find out whether Richter Guardian is a good fit for you.
Cyber criminals have been carrying out technical support scams for over a decade. As technology evolves, so do the techniques of fraudulent tech support scammers, making it difficult for people to discern whether the technical support team they’re speaking to is legitimate. Technical support scams are so common that the FBI’s Internet Crime Report of 2022 reported that ‘Tech Support Crime’ had over 30,000 recorded victims in 2022.
Technical support scammers use many different techniques to trap people and gain access to their computers and other devices. After they convince you that there is a problem, they request an exorbitant fee in return for their help. Here are two of the most common methods technical support scammers use to trick their victims:
We understand that misleading pop-ups or warnings about your device through a call can cause uncertainty. Richter Guardian’s monitoring system and concierge service can give you peace of mind.
Your onboarded mobile and endpoint devices can be monitored by us. If there is a problem with your device, we will contact you to provide specific details about any potential alerts. Our experts can help you remediate the issue.
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It’s natural to want to capture the moments from your special vacations and share them on platforms like Facebook and Instagram with family and friends. However, posting these photos while you are still on your trip can expose you to various cybersecurity risks. Cybercriminals often exploit social media to gather information about your travel plans, and by sharing your vacation in real time, you may unknowingly make yourself a target.
By following these precautions, you can enjoy your vacation while minimizing the risks associated with social media sharing:
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