Scam prevention tips from BC RCMP

Like many people, you’ve probably received a phone call, a text, or an email at some point in your life where the person on the other end is pretending to be some sort of higher authority demanding your personal information.

During some instances it can be scary, as scammers use emotion and fear tactics to take advantage of individuals for their money or personal information.

In 2020, the Anti-Fraud Centre of Canada recorded a total of 42,185 victims in Canada which equated to an estimated total of $106 million dollars scammed from Canadians.

Now in 2021, that number is anticipated to be even higher.

The tactics that these fraudsters use come in many forms, and can sound extremely convincing for those they are preying on.

“In some common scenarios we are seeing, the fraudster will use intimidation such as pretending to be an authority figure from the Canada Revenue Agency or the Canadian Border Service Agency. They may even tell you will be arrested unless you pay a fee,” said Corporal Andres Sanchez of the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP

“In other scenarios the fraudster will promise you prizes, great wealth, vacations, or cars if you first pay some underlying hidden fee."

Here are some of the tips from the Anti-Fraud Centre to protect you from being a victim of fraud.

You should not be afraid to say no, don't be afraid by high pressure sales tactics. If a telemarketer tries to get you to buy something or to send them money right away either hang up or request the information in writing.

Do you research, verify that the organization you're dealing with is legitimate before you take any other action:

• Verify Canadian charities with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Verify collection agencies with the appropriate provincial agency
• Look online for contact information for the company that supposedly called you, and call them to confirm
• Verify any calls with your credit card company by calling the phone number on the back of your credit card

Watch out for fake or deceptive ads, spoofed emails, and verify with the company before contacting them.

Don’t ever give out personal information and beware of unsolicited calls where the caller may ask for things like:

• Your name
• Your address
• Your birthdate
• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your credit card or banking information

If you did not initiate the call, you don’t know who you could be talking to.

Beware of upfront fees in advance of receiving goods, services or prizes. It’s illegal for a company to ask you to pay upfront before they give you a loan.

There are no prize fees or taxes in Canada, if you won a prize it’s free.

Be sure to protect your computer, watch out for urgent looking messages that may appear when browsing online. Don’t click them or call the number they provide.

No legitimate company will call and claim that your computer is infected with a virus.

Ensure that you have up to date antivirus software installed on your computer to lessen the risk of getting infected with a potential virus.

Also protect all online accounts, never reveal your information online to sources you are unsure of.

• Create a strong password by: Using a minimum of 8 characters including upper and lower case letters, and at least 1 number and a symbol
• Creating unique passwords for every online account including social networks, emails, financial and other accounts.
• Using a combination of passphrases that are easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Only log into your accounts from trusted sources
• Don't reveal personal information over social media

If you have been the victim of fraud, please contact your local police and/or report the event online to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.