March is Fraud Prevention Month!
Fraud Prevention Month was created in 2004 as an awareness campaign for fraud prevention. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is working with organizations across Canada to empower Canadians to engage in fraud prevention.
According to the CAFC, they received nearly 50,000 fraud complaints in 2024, which resulted in a loss of $639 million from Canadians.
As for Manitoba, RCMP detachments received 2041 complaints. “The complaints include various types of frauds, but most were related to online or telephone-related scams,” said Corporal Terry Sundell of the Manitoba RCMP Cyber & Financial Crime Unit.
The Gimli RCMP Detachment specifically received 64 reports regarding fraudulent activity, Fisher Branch and Lundar had 15 reports, and Ashern had 11.
Corporal Sundell also explained that fraud complaints are heavily underreported, with the CAFC estimating that only 5 to 10 percent of frauds are reported to authorities. “People that have been victimized may feel embarrassed, not know who to report to, or not bother reporting it because they may feel that nothing can be done.”
He shared the importance of making these reports, as they help law enforcement develop disruption tactics, conduct awareness campaigns, and coordinate investigations with international law enforcement agencies.
The RCMP receives daily reports of fraud claims all around the province. Scammers do not care where you live; they only want you to fall for their tricks. They will also try to scam you at any time of the year, but Corporal Sundall stated that there tends to be an increase in activity during tax and holiday season.
The most common scams that are accounted for in RCMP reports are:
– Grandparent scams- where the scammer pretends to be a lawyer or law enforcement and says that your grandchild is in jail and needs money to be bailed out
Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) scams: A scammer gets access to your CRA information and sets up themselves as the direct deposit recipient.
– Work-from-home scams- scammers will offer you a remote position involving moving money, only to be part of a fraudulent operation.
– Investment scams- people receiving a message to invest in cryptocurrency.
– Romance scams- scammers build trust and then ask you for personal information such as ID photos or money.
– Computer virus scams: You will get a pop-up saying your computer has a virus, and you click the link to “fix” the virus and enter personal details.
– e-transfer scams: You receive an email with a link to collect a fake e-transfer, which requires you to enter your banking details.
– Marketplace scams- you send money for an online item to buy online but never receive it.
– Fake invoice scams: The scammer notices a routine payment and sends an invoice requesting payment, making the email look like it came from the original payee.
Emily Olsen, Media Relations Strategist with Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC), also addresses the rising issue of lottery scams.
Most scammers try to trick players by pretending to be WCLC or another lottery corporation. She expressed the importance of double-checking who is contacting you and not giving out any information.
“If you purchased your lotto ticket in-store, we will never contact you by phone or email to say you’ve won a prize. You also cannot win a prize if you have not purchased a ticket,” said Olsen.
You will only be contacted through phone or email if you purchased your ticket online or have a Play Now or Subscription Spot subscription. Even if you are the lucky winner, WCLC encourages you to check the posted winning ticket numbers online and call their Player’s Care line at 1 (800) 665-3313.
“If it is us calling and you want to hang up and call us directly, that is fine, too. We want to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable when it comes to winning the lottery.”
She also explained that scammers will try to pressure you to claim your prize as soon as possible. The WCLC will never pressure you to collect payment right away, adding that they like to take their time and ensure they are contacting the correct winners.
“Scammers are always trying to catch you off guard, and winning the lottery can bring on a lot of emotions. You must stop and think about who is contacting you, and never give out any personal information, including your address, banking details, or account passwords.”
The most important piece of advice WCLC shared is never transferring money. You are not required to pay taxes or fees for prizes. So, if you are being asked to make a payment, you know it is fake.
If you have become a victim of fraud, you are encouraged to submit a report to your local RCMP and to the CAFC and contact your financial institution. The CAFC has many support and resources available to Canadians who have been victims of fraud, and they can be accessed on the CAFC website.
“It is important for people to understand that investigations into online frauds can be complex and take time, and during that time, a person’s money is almost always gone, with no chance of it ever being recovered,” said Corporal Sundell.
The best way to keep yourself safe is to take appropriate preventative measures and be aware of any concerns. Corporal Sundell recommends changing your passwords regularly and using multi-factor authentications wherever possible.
For more information on fraud prevention or submitting a fraud report, please visit www.antifraudcantre.ca or call 1 (888) 495-8501.
