TL;DR: On September 3, 2026, CTV News/CP24 reported that a Barrie, Ontario woman lost about C$56,000 from various accounts and lines of credit after a June call from someone she believed was a Scotiabank representative. The caller said her card was being used in Manitoba and asked her to click a link. Scotiabank eventually recovered her money.
What happened
According to the CTV News/CP24 report, the caller said someone was trying to use her credit card fraudulently and that she needed to click a link to protect her money. He asked for her phone number and said a link would be sent. She clicked it.
Later she found the scammers had drained her accounts and lines of credit, and she was told the money would not be refunded because she had let the scammers into her accounts. The article does not mention a police report. Scotiabank, which cannot comment on individual cases, eventually recovered her money, though the article does not say how much or how long it took.
Why it works
A call about a fraud attempt on your card creates urgency, and a link “to protect your money” feels like help. The link then gives the scammer access to the accounts they said they were protecting.
Scotiabank told clients not to rely on the number shown on their phone to judge whether a call is legitimate.
Background: our explainers on caller ID spoofing. See also West Shore RCMP: Fake Police Letter Demands a Fine in 24 Hours and Parkland RCMP: Fake “Bail” Call Sent Victim to a Crypto Machine.
What the bank and an expert advise
- Hang up on suspicious calls and phone the bank using the number on the back of the card.
- Phone numbers, including card numbers, can be spoofed, so caller ID is not proof.
- Never give security codes or account access to anyone.
- Practise the bank’s “recognize, reject and report” approach to fraud.
If you have already sent money
Call your bank or card issuer at once and ask to stop or recall the payment, then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and your local police. Our guides on reporting to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadian bank impersonation scams and how to reverse a wire transfer scam walk through the steps, and what to do after a scam, wherever you live covers the first 24 hours. Scammers often start with details taken from past leaks, so run our free digital footprint check to see what of yours is already exposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Barrie woman lose?
About C$56,000, taken from various accounts and lines of credit, according to the CTV News/CP24 report of September 3, 2026.
How did the scam work?
A caller posing as a Scotiabank representative said her card was being used fraudulently and asked her to click a link sent to her phone, after which her accounts were drained.
Did she get the money back?
Scotiabank eventually recovered her money, but the article does not say how much or how long it took.
Can I trust the number on my phone screen?
No. Scotiabank advised clients not to rely on the number shown on their phone, and an expert noted numbers can be spoofed.
Sources
- CTV News/CP24: Ontario woman falls victim to bank investigator scam, loses $56K (Sep 3, 2026)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Related Reading
- West Shore RCMP: Fake Police Letter Demands a Fine in 24 Hours
- Parkland RCMP: Fake “Bail” Call Sent Victim to a Crypto Machine
- AFP Reveals the Script Cambodian Scammers Used to Pose as Police
- Canada Scam News: October 2026 Roundup and Warnings
- Average Loss per Victim by Scam Type (2025)
- What to do after a scam, wherever you live