2016 is the 12th anniversary of Fraud Awareness 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.
Check out some tips below to protect yourself and your loved ones. Check out our website www.Saanichpolice.ca or follow us on Twitter @Saanichpolice for updated information throughout the month of March.
Tips to protect yourself from Fraud:
- Don’t be fooled by the promise of a valuable prize in return for a low-cost purchase.
- Be extra cautious about 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.
- 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).
A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie #228