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Fraud Awareness

Spreading Awareness About Fraud and Recent Fraud Trends

Your protection and safety is important, especially in this world of constant change.  It can be hard to keep up with the latest scams so we have compiled the resources here for you.  Be sure to check back often as we continue to add updates on the newest scams and fraud schemes.

How to Report a Fraud

Gather what information you have about the fraud that occurred. 
  • The person's name, the reason they approached/contacted you and when
  • How you were contacted
  • If the contact was online, take screen shots of the webpages, conversations or any information you may have
  • Keep any documentation you have such as receipts, copies of emails or text messages, shipping information, brochures or service agreements
Notify your financial institution and/or credit card company right away.  Depending on the type of fraud and whether or not money has been lost, there may be ways your credit union or bank can help you recover those funds.  Your financial institution can also place a flag on your accounts to monitor for suspicious activity or open you a new account.   
Report the fraud to the RCMP.   It is important to let local law enforcement know that a fraud has occurred as it may be part of a bigger scheme and there are likely other victims of the same fraud.  This helps the investigation and aids in catching the perpetrators.  Provide the RCMP with a copy of any of the information you were able to gather in Step 1.
Contact Transunion and Equifax, Canada's national credit bureaus, to put a fraud alert on your account.
Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). 
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has an online tool or toll free number 1-888-495-8501
 
Notify the website where the fraud occurred (if applicable).
For example if the fraud was a result of an ad on Kijiji, Facebook, eBay, etc.  Or a specific dating site or app.  By letting these companies know, they can investigate and block the fraudster on their platform. 

Tips to Protect Yourself

Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from fraud:
  • Use strong passwords for your accounts
  • Protect your computer and devices by keeping them up to date and using antivirus software
  • Setup multi-factor authentication to make it difficult for someone else to access your accounts
  • Update your privacy settings on your social media accounts
  • Check your bank accounts regularly so you can report unusual activity right away
  • Read the terms and conditions, especially in regards to payment policies and fraud protection
  • Never accept or send money to a third party.  You may unknowingly be participating in something illegal
  • Don't be afraid to say "NO".  If you receive a high-pressure sales call request information in writing or hang up.  It's ok, to be firm and say no
  • Think before you click. Take a few minutes to ask questions and listen to your instincts. If you still aren't sure, ask someone you trust
  • Keep yourself up to date with current fraud schemes and share with your friends and family what you know
  • Do not trust your call display, fraudsters have figured out how to spoof names and phone numbers
  • Do not provide your personal or financial information
  • Do not open attachments or click links in unsolicited emails/text messages
  • If you have become a victim of fraud, make sure to report it!  Do not be embarrassed, the fraudsters use very sophisticated tactics and are evolving everyday. 

Want to test your knowledge of fraud?  Take this quiz

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Information

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