Nova Scotia Woman Targeted in 'Swatting' Attack After Refusing Phone Scammer
A Truro-area woman was subjected to a swatting attack and ongoing harassment after she refused to comply with a scammer impersonating CIBC fraud services. The incident prompted a heavily armed police response and led to the hacking of her professional website.
Lynn Clark Colpitts, a woman from the Truro area of Nova Scotia, became the target of a "swatting" attack after refusing to follow the instructions of a phone scammer who claimed to be calling from the CIBC fraud department. 
The caller told Colpitts that someone had applied for a credit card in her name and directed her to download an application called "CIBC Guard." CIBC has since issued a statement clarifying that no such app exists and that the bank never requests personal financial information or app downloads through unsolicited contact.
After consulting her work IT expert, Colpitts refused to share information or download the app. The scammer responded with profanity and hung up. Approximately 20 minutes later, heavily armed officers from the Colchester District RCMP and Truro Police arrived at her home. Staff Sgt. Mark Rose of the Colchester District RCMP stated the incident appeared to be retribution by fraudsters because Colpitts did not follow their initial instructions. Police had received a false report of a hostage-taking and shooting at her address.
The harassment continued on Friday and Saturday, when the scammer contacted Colpitts with threatening calls and emails containing death threats. Additionally, someone hacked into her real estate agency's website, removed her photograph, and replaced it with an image described as a "deformed animal." 
David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security, noted that while Canadians have lost tens of millions of dollars to phone scams, this is the first time he is aware of such a scam escalating into a swatting attack. Security experts describe the escalation as traumatic and potentially terrorist-like behavior.