Police have issued a warning that cybercriminals continue to exploit human and technological vulnerabilities leading to billions of dollars lost to cybercrime every year.
As digital technology advances, the cyber realm becomes easier for criminals to exploit and extort victims. Two of the many types of cybercrime are phishing and ransomware.
Phishing is a crime that targets victims by simulating a legitimate message from a bank, government department or some other organization, in an attempt to get confidential information that can be used for criminal purposes. A ransomware attack occurs when a cybercriminal infects a victim’s computer systems with malware that encrypts the data on those systems making them inaccessible and unusable without a decryption key. Cybercriminals will then demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption key.
If you or someone you know suspects they have been a victim of phishing or ransomware, or any digital or online cybercrime, contact your local police service or local OPP detachment, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or p3tips.com.
Get Cyber Safe is a national, multi-jurisdiction, public awareness campaign created to educate Canadians about Internet security and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online. Visit getcybersafe.gc.ca.
OCTOBER 11
2:51 AM | A 20-year-old Woolwich Township man was operating a farm tractor on Reid Woods Drive when he and the vehicle left the roadway and came to rest among some trees and bushes. The driver sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision and was driven to the hospital by a citizen. He was subsequently charged with ‘careless driving.’
OCTOBER 14
1:26 PM | Sometime overnight on October 13 or in the early morning of October 14, unknown suspects entered unlocked vehicles in the area of Andover Drive, Starlight Avenue and Norwich Road in Breslau. Police remind residents to check their vehicles at night to make sure they are locked, and not to leave valuables inside the vehicle.
OCTOBER 14
6:37 PM | A 33-year-old man from Newton was driving a blue Ford east on Lobsinger Line in Woolwich Township when he struck a deer that ran across the road. The driver did not receive and physical injuries as a result of the collision, but the vehicle received minor damage and had to be towed from the scene. The deer succumbed to its injuries.
