BARRIE, Ont. — The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has issued a warning regarding an emerging cyber fraud scheme involving Zoom video calls, following an incident targeting a real estate professional in the Collingwood and The Blue Mountains area. Authorities are advising the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent calling links and malicious file downloads designed to compromise personal bank accounts.
According to police, the victim was initially contacted through the property listing website Realtor.ca by a suspect posing as a prospective client. After exchanging several emails, the two parties agreed to schedule a Zoom video meeting.
During the call, the fraudster claimed to experience technical audio issues and persuaded the victim to join an alternate Zoom link while downloading an accompanying file. The downloaded file enabled the scammer to gain full unauthorized access to the victim’s computer and online banking accounts, leading to attempted illegal money transfers.
OPP officials cautioned that cybercriminals are adopting increasingly professional tactics—including polished video calls and formal email communications—to build trust with victims. Police strongly advise individuals to exercise extreme caution before clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading files from unverified senders, and to immediately contact their bank and law enforcement if they suspect their security has been compromised.
