Several registrants have received e-mails that purport to come from Canadian Securities Administrators staff, warned the regulators July 15. The e-mails are believed to be malicious phishing attempts by unknown individuals who are trying to obtain personal information or confidential business information.

The CSA says it is also aware of similar fake e-mails that appear to come from the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) and other security regulators.

The CSA urges anyone receiving an e-mail from the CSA, IIROC or MFDA to verify the following: “Is the message from a real CSA, IIROC or MFDA e-mail address? Is the message from someone you know who works at one of these organizations? Were you expecting this e-mail?”

Those receiving a suspicious e-mail claiming to be from the CSA are asked to contact the organization at this email address. The CSA also recommends that recipients of such e-mails immediately change all their e-mail and login passwords.

Quebec’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), issued a warning about phishing attempts at the end of June. The MFDA issued a warning about phishing attempts last November.