Albertans are being cautioned by the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) about a new email scam.
In the email, the scammer is pretending to be AMA stating whoever received the email won a free car emergency kit.
The scammer is not only impersonating AMA, but all Canadian Automobile Association and AAA club members.
"We’ve received numerous messages from members and non-members reporting a scam where recipients receive an email with a chance to win a car emergency kit. They’re instructed to answer a survey regarding their experience with the auto club or given an offer to purchase an extremely discounted emergency kit," stated AMA.
According to AMA, if you receive one of these fraudulent emails:
- Do not click any links or provide any information.
- Take a screenshot and report it to us at reportphishing@ama.ab.ca.
- Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online.
- Report it as spam in your email app.
If you click on any links or share personal information, make sure to take the following precautions.:
- Change any passwords associated with the email you provided, including any financial institutions and your AMA Online Account.
- Notify your financial institution if banking information was entered, or a payment made.
- Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
"Building safer communities is a huge part of who we are at AMA: Albertans protecting Albertans. It’s why, for decades, we’ve taken a lead role in improving awareness of common crimes affecting our members while sharing tangible actions to support prevention. When we learned of this scam, which impersonates organizations with large memberships, we posted alerts across our social channels and website and sent an email to our members, encouraging them to be vigilant about this scam and other types of fraud. We continue to encourage anyone who receives this phishing email to block and report the sender, and to avoid sharing any personal information," AMA wrote to DiscoverAirdrie.
According to AMA, this scam is affecting users globally, and they can confirm that all member's information in the AMA systems is secure.
"Fraudsters are using lists of email addresses already in their possession to imitate organizations with large memberships—knowing that there’s a good likelihood that the email recipients are or have been members of their regional organization."
The sender’s email address varies, but it’s never any of AMA's verified email addresses, which always end in @email.ama.ab.ca, @ama.ab.ca, @amaemail.ca, or ama@express.can.medallia.ca.
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