2018 is the 14th anniversary of Fraud Prevention Month. This campaign was started in 2004 to encourage Canadians to recognize, reject and report fraud.
Organized by the Government of Canada, Competition Bureau, Fraud Prevention Month is a unique effort that brings together law enforcement agencies and public and private sector organizations to combat fraud.
It’s not always easy to spot a scam, and new ones are invented every day. If you suspect that you may be a target of fraud, or if you have already sent funds, don’t be embarrassed – you’re not alone.
Check out some tips below to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Tips to protect yourself and others from Fraud:
- Be extra cautious about calls, emails etc from the Canada Revenue Agency, especially at this time of the year. The CRA will not threaten to arrest you or ask you to divulge personal information, financial information or ask you to pay them in gift cards, prepaid credit cards or Bitcoin.
- Don’t be fooled by the promise of a valuable prize in return for a low-cost purchase.
- Be aware of calls, emails or mailings offering international bonds or lottery tickets, a portion of a foreign dignitary’s bank account, free vacations, credit repair or schemes with unlimited income potential.
- Don’t be afraid to hang up the phone, delete the email or close your Internet connection.
- Be aware of “job offers” that have you receiving funds into your bank account and then directing those funds to company representative.
- Don’t purchase a product or service without carefully checking out the product, service and company.
- Don’t be afraid to request further documentation from the caller so you can verify the validity of the company.
- Don’t disclose personal information about your finances, bank accounts, credit cards, social insurance and driver’s license numbers to any business that can’t prove it is legitimate.
- Shred unwanted personal information such as bank statements, credit card bills, unwanted receipts, cheques, pre-approved credit applications and old tax returns.
Saanich Police encourage you to protect yourself from fraud by learning how to recognize it. Helpful information on common scams and ways to protect yourself can be found atwww.antifraudcentre.ca. Police further urge you to take the time to identify the people in your life who may be vulnerable to these scams.
Anyone with information that may assist the Police in identifying or locating the people responsible for these crimes are asked to call Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
Sgt. Jereme Leslie #228