ASSINIBOIA — Just because Fraud Prevention and Awareness month is over, doesn’t mean residents can become complacent. Fraud can happen to anyone at anytime and scammers are becoming more sophisticated in targeting individuals.
The best way to fight these types of crimes is through awareness and using educated caution when dealing with potential fraudulent calls, texts, emails and messages.
Assiniboia’s RCMP Detachment said in the last year, they have investigated more than 30 fraud complaints.
The top three scams to watch out for include:
Romance Scams – victims get contacted online by someone overseas claiming to want to participate in a romantic relationship, however, turns into them asking for money to try and escape their country.
Sextortion Scams – start on social media, when individuals contact the victims and convince them to send them compromising photos of themselves, then attempt to extort money from the victims in exchange for not publicizing the photos.
Marketplace/Kijiji Scams – victims answer ads regarding items for sale, provide a deposit, and then all communication is cut off, and victim never receives the item. It also can happen when the victim lists something for sale, then is contacted by a buyer and sent a certain amount of money by e-transfer, then additional funds are then e-transferred out of the victim’s account.
The RCMP advise common sense is your best defense. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it costs money when you’ve supposedly won something, or you didn’t enter the draw or purchase a ticket, it is a scam.
Other general safety tips include having strong, unique passwords, not ones that can be easily guessable, like birthdays or names.
Exercise caution when using public Wi-Fi networks, as your data can be vulnerable.
Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails. Verify the legitimacy of sources if 小蓝视频 asked to share personal information, especially on social media.
If you don’t have notifications set up on your bank accounts, consider looking into this option, as it will notify you of withdrawals or activity and is especially helpful as a first line of defense if this is an unauthorized transaction.
Scammers often play on our emotions and put in efforts like high-pressure sales. Don’t be intimidated or pressured into doing something you are not comfortable with. Feel free to hang up and call your bank or credit card to see if this request is indeed legitimate.
Lastly, the best line of defense to protect yourself from scams and fraud is stay informed about the latest scams. Trust your gut, don’t hesitate to verify information or contact company directly.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a scam, report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Learn more, visit:
