How to Protect Yourself from “Phishing” and Email Scams

You may have experienced or read about recent incidents of unsolicited email messages masquerading as legitimate companies that trick recipients into divulging personal and financial information.

These “phishing” (also called "brand spoofing") emails send you to Web sites pretending to be legitimate companies that ask for your personal and financial information.

At no time do members of Export Development Canada (EDC) request personal or financial information by sending out unsolicited emails. You should never send personal identification numbers or other personal confidential information by email as it is not a secure method of contact.

How the Scams Work

Export Development Canada has learned that individuals have been sending out unsolicited emails that purport some connection to EDC, and use EDC’s logo without authorization. We also have reports that these emails are followed up by telephone calls.

These emails offer fictional “partnerships” or “representational fees” with EDC and are designed to have recipients contact and provide personal or financial information.

Export Development Canada does not ask for personal and/or sensitive business information, recruit representatives or solicit partnerships through unsolicited emails and faxes.

Given the unauthorized use of the Export Development Canada logo and the misrepresentation of the email content, EDC reminds you to remain vigilant about illegitimate uses of email. EDC recommends that at no time should personal identification numbers or other personal confidential information ever be sent in response to unsolicited email.

How to Identify the Scam

There are some commonalities that can help you identify the scams:

• They are designed to mimic the look and feel of a genuine site
• They are most commonly sent out through unsolicited emails, containing links or attachments (recent scam has used the email address exportdevelopmentcanada@msn.com)
• The Web address will often have the @ symbol or a numeric address (eg.123.456.1.2). The address may also include the word, phrase or text “export development Canada” or “edc” to make it appear authentic.

How to Help Protect Yourself

It is important to understand that there are ways in which you can help protect yourself from email fraud and Web sites that request your personal or financial information:

• Should you or your business have concerns about the legitimacy of any email or correspondence that purports to be from Export Development Canada, please contact Neil Norris, EDC Corporate Security Officer, at 613-597-8516 or nnorris@edc.ca.
• Always enter the EDC Web site using your bookmarks or any of our published URLs.
• Never send personal and/or financial information via unsecured email.
• Do not trust email headers. They can be easily forged.