Published May 31, 2026 · By the Hardwired IT Team · Ottawa, Ontario
We work in people's homes across Ottawa — Gloucester, Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Centretown — and over the past couple of years, we've seen a pattern. The calls about slow computers and virus warnings are often less about hardware and more about someone on the other end of a phone or screen trying to steal something. Older residents are being specifically targeted, and the tactics are getting harder to recognize. These aren't the clumsy mass-emails of the early 2000s. They're convincing, scripted, and designed to make you act before you think.
Here are the five scams coming up most often right now in Ottawa, what they look like in practice, and exactly what to do when one finds you.
A retired teacher in Nepean received a voicemail in January saying her SIN number had been "compromised in a fraud investigation" and that a warrant had been issued for her arrest. The caller told her to call back immediately to avoid being picked up by Ottawa Police. The number looked local. She almost called back.
Red flags:
What to do: Hang up. Do not call back the number left in the voicemail. If you're genuinely worried about a tax issue, call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 — the number on canada.ca.
An Orleans resident got a call last spring from a man with a Microsoft badge number who said their computer had been "sending error reports" and was about to crash permanently. He offered to fix it remotely if they'd just give him access. They nearly did — the accent was professional, the story was detailed.
Red flags:
What to do: Hang up immediately. If you've already given someone remote access to your computer, power it off right away and call a local technician to check it over before logging into any accounts.
A grandfather in Barrhaven got a call that started with a young voice saying, "Grandpa, it's me — I'm in trouble." He assumed it was his grandson. The caller said he'd been in a car accident on the 417, hurt someone, and needed bail money wired immediately. A "lawyer" got on the line. The grandfather was at his bank when his daughter called — his actual grandson was fine, sitting at work in Kanata.
Red flags:
What to do: Hang up and call the grandchild directly on a number you already have saved. Do not use any number the caller gives you. Verify through a second family member before doing anything else.
A retired couple in Gloucester received a text that looked exactly like it came from TD Bank — same short code format, same logo when they clicked the link. The message said their account had been flagged for suspicious activity and they needed to verify their information within 24 hours. The link went to a convincing fake TD login page.
Red flags:
What to do: Don't click the link. Open a fresh browser tab and go directly to your bank's website by typing the address yourself, or call the number on the back of your bank card. Report the text to your bank's fraud line.
A woman in Vanier was reading the news online when her screen suddenly filled with a flashing red warning: "MICROSOFT ALERT — Your computer is infected. Do not shut down. Call 1-888-XXX-XXXX immediately." The sound kept looping. She called the number. The man who answered wanted $299 to "remove the virus."
Red flags:
What to do: Press and hold the power button to turn the computer off completely. When you turn it back on, the popup will be gone — it was just a browser tab. If you already called the number and paid, contact your bank immediately and have a technician check the computer for anything that was actually installed.
The thing scammers rely on most isn't technology — it's surprise. A call or popup catches you off guard, creates urgency, and gets you moving before you can think it through. Now that you know the five most common plays, you have an advantage. The CRA won't threaten arrest. Microsoft won't call you. Your grandchild can be verified with one phone call. Your bank will never ask for your password by text. And a scary popup is just a webpage.
Share this with someone you care about. Print it out if that helps. The knowledge is the protection.
If you or a family member has had contact with any of these scams — especially if remote access was granted or payment was made — a technician can check the computer over and make sure nothing harmful was left behind. Hardwired IT also offers free community workshops on digital safety for Ottawa retirement residences and community groups — call us at (613) 416-9482 to arrange one for your community.
Power the computer off right away and disconnect it from the internet. From a different, trusted device, change the passwords for your email and banking, and call your bank. Then have a technician check the computer for anything that was installed before you log back into accounts.
Report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, and contact the Ottawa Police non-emergency line at 613-236-1222. If money was sent, call your bank's fraud line immediately — fast action improves the odds of recovery.
Yes. We come to the home anywhere in Ottawa, check for remote-access tools or malware that may have been installed, secure the accounts, and explain in plain language what to watch for. We also offer free digital-safety talks for Ottawa community groups.
Rather have a certified technician handle this?
Hardwired IT comes to your Ottawa home — same day, no fix no fee.
Book an On-Site Technician →We'll check it over on-site, remove anything harmful, and secure your accounts. Same-day service across Ottawa. Free estimate.
Or call (613) 416-9482
No. Microsoft, Apple, Google, and other major tech companies do not make unsolicited phone calls about computer problems. Any call claiming to be from these companies is a scam.
Disconnect from the internet immediately. Change all your passwords from a different device — especially email, banking, and social media. Have a certified technician professionally scan the computer for malware and remote access tools before using it again.
Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre.ca. Also report to the RCMP's cybercrime reporting system at rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/report-cybercrime.