INNISFIL, ON (Rajeev Sharma) – The Town of Innisfil has issued an urgent warning to residents after Mayor Lynn Dollin’s municipal email account was breached by a malicious phishing scam earlier this week. Officials are advising the public to immediately delete any suspicious emails purportedly from the Mayor that request financial assistance or personal information.
The breach occurred on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after the Mayor opened a link from an email that appeared to be from a “trusted external organization.” Once clicked, the sophisticated malware automatically sent similar fraudulent messages to every individual in the Mayor’s extensive contact list.
Containment and Cyber Response
Town officials confirmed that the incident was an isolated event and not a targeted attack against the municipality or its systems. Upon discovering the compromise, the town’s IT department:
- Isolated the Account: Access to Mayor Dollin’s email was immediately cut off to prevent further spread.
- Activated Security Protocols: Comprehensive cyber response measures were triggered to assess potential damage.
- Verified Data Safety: CAO Oliver Jerschow confirmed that no confidential or personal information was accessed during the incident, and general town operations remain unaffected.
Mayor’s Public Warning
Taking to social media to alert the community, Mayor Dollin posted a direct warning on Facebook: “SPAM ALERT. IGNORE EMAILS FROM MY TOWN EMAIL ASKING FOR MONEY. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.”
The town clarified that since there was no takeover of municipal systems beyond the single email account, police involvement has not been required at this stage. Residents are reminded to remain vigilant, verify the source of unexpected requests for money, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails, even if they appear to come from known contacts.
