Brantford Police are alerting residents after a local woman reported multiple fraudulent credit card charges linked to deceptive emails.
Investigators say fraudsters often use small purchases, like a carton of milk, before making larger transactions such as laptops or gaming consoles.
The emails were designed to distract the victim from real fraud alerts, making detection harder.
Police are reminding residents to check financial statements regularly, use strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity to authorities and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.