March is Fraud Prevention Month, and the South Bruce OPP are trying to ensure that people are informed and aware of scams that are common in the region.
Constable Kevin Martin says one very common scam is the online brokerage scam.
"What that means is people are seeking out brokers through an online search and dealing with them without verifying if they're legitimate," Constable Martin stated. "It sounds a little bit strange but it's actually working really well, and what I mean is they're making a pile of money, to the tune of $200,000-$300,000 per scam or transaction. So I mean, your best advice there is do your homework, do your due diligence. Do at least five source checks on any online business."
A scam that continues to cause issues locally and around the country is the grandparent or emergency scam, where the victim receives a panicked call from an alleged loved one.
"The problem is, it's not a new scam, but we have this new artificial intelligence thing," said Martin. "Basically, artificial intelligence allows scammers to sample a voice. So you may actually hear a voice similar to your family member, co-worker, whatever. So I've been saying for years the importance of verifying contacts, verifying contacts you don't expect. Whether it's someone you know or don't know, treat it as something you're not gonna deal with until you prove it's real."
Another very common and well known one is known as the romance scam, which Constable Martin says is a very well planned out and well rehearsed scam, with some operating out of designated call centres with multiple people acting as scammers for one person.
"Basically it starts with a social media, email, whatever, some sort of online contact, and very very quickly within 7 days sometimes, becomes a relationship of love and one you can't live without," he explained. "To that I would say, consider the little things. If this is a real relationship, how tall are they? Do they have bad breath? Do they snore? You know, you don't know anything about them outside of the messages they're typing from a pre-prepared script."
Some key tips to not only sniff out a fraud attempt against you, but to avoid becoming a victim, as well, boil down to common sense. Those include that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and you can't win a contest you haven't entered. Constable Martin also points out a few other key tips for this time of year.
"Another one, and I don't know why, but gift cards are something the scammers are really after. I don't get the attraction, but gift cards are a red flag. Now this time of year, we're doing our taxes, and a certain branch of the government may be reaching out, but please, please please please, verify who it is before you deal with them. Again, if a branch of the 'government' is asking for gift cards, we got a whole other issue and we aren't sending gift cards," Constable Martin chuckled.
No matter what, Constable Martin says the number one defence is to verify identities and do your research to avoid becoming a victim.
"Do not speak to the number they provide, do not correspond with the email they provide. If you still have a phone book, look there or use the 411 on the computer, look it up and get the actual number and deal with the real agency, the real person. Make sure it's legit, and at the end of the day, don't be afraid to do the in-person stuff," Constable Martin concluded.
For example, if you get a "notice" from your bank, go to your local bank branch and verify it. More tips on how to avoid being the victim of a scam, and how to report a scam, are available on AntiFraudCentre.ca.
The numbers (reported by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
In 2021, Canadians lost a reported $384 million dollars to Fraud
In 2022, Canadians lost a reported $530 million dollars to Fraud
In 2023, Canadians lost a reported $554 million dollars to Fraud
Considering that only about 10 percent of fraud is reported, the actual dollar losses are considerably higher.
Through the first two months of 2024, residents of Southern Bruce County have already lost $105,000 to cons and scams.
The South Bruce OPP is offering the following tips to help protect you from a con artist:
If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
Remember that you can't win a contest that you didn't enter in the first place.
If you have a concern about your computer, take it to a reputable repair shop for service. Never provide remote access to a "tech" that calls you out of the blue
Gift cards are a red flag. If someone contacts you and directs you to buy gift cards, you need to hang up the phone/shred the letter/delete the email, etc.
Your best defence is to verify any unsolicited contact. Unsolicited means that you didn't ask for it.
Anyone interested in more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or check online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/.
