Canadian Anti-Fraud Center: How Do I Protect Myself From Fraud

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The CAFC (Canadian Anti-Fraud Center)

Quoted off their website: The CAFC is a national police service that gathers intelligence on fraud across Canada and assists Police of Jurisdiction with enforcement and prevention efforts. They help citizens and businesses:

  • report fraud
  • learn about different types of fraud
  • recognize the warning signs of fraud
  • protect themselves from fraud

They also provide information to law enforcement and governments in Canada and around the world. Our goals include:

  • disrupting crime
  • strengthening the partnership between the private and public sectors
  • maintaining Canada’s economy

How do I Protect Myself from Fraud?

In today’s digital age, fraudsters are increasingly sophisticated, making it crucial for Canadians to stay vigilant and protect themselves against scams. Here are some essential fraud prevention tips to safeguard your finances and personal information:

  • Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Communications: Whether it’s an email, phone call, or text message, be cautious of unsolicited communications, especially if they request personal or financial information. Legitimate organizations won’t ask you to provide sensitive information out of the blue.
  • Verify the Identity of the Caller: If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent a bank, government agency, or service provider, ask for their name, organization, and contact information. Hang up and independently verify their identity before providing any information.This is called “Spoofing”. CAFC states the following:

Protect yourself from spoofing by

  • Never assuming that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate
  • Hang up and make the outgoing call when someone claims to be contacting you from your financial institution, service provider, law enforcement or government agency
  • Call the company or agency in question directly, if you receive a text message or email. Make sure you research their contact information and don’t use the information provided in the first message
  • Never clicking on links received via text message or email
  • When visiting a website, always verify the URL and domain to make sure you are on the official website
      1. Caller ID spoofing: Fraudsters have the ability to manipulate the phone number appearing on call display either by call or text message. Fraudsters can display legitimate phone numbers for law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, government agencies or service providers.
      2. Email spoofing: Similar to Caller ID spoofing, fraudsters can manipulate the sender’s email address in order to make you believe that the email you’re receiving is from a legitimate source.
      3. Website spoofing: Fraudsters will create fraudulent websites that look legitimate. The fake websites can pretend to be a financial institution, company offering employment, investment company or government agency. In many cases, fraudsters will use a similar domain/website URL to the legitimate company or organization with a minor spelling difference.
More Way to Protect From Fraud:
  • Protect Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive information, such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN), banking details, or passwords, unless you initiated the communication and trust the recipient. Keep sensitive documents and passwords secure, and shred any documents containing personal information before discarding them.
  • Monitor Your Accounts Regularly: Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious activity to your financial institution immediately.
  • Use Strong Passwords and Security Measures: Create unique, complex passwords for your online accounts and change them regularly. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security.
  • Stay Informed About Common Scams: Stay up-to-date on the latest fraud schemes targeting Canadians, such as phishing scams, identity theft, and romance scams. Knowledge is your best defense against fraudsters.
  • Trust Your Instincts: If something seems too good to be true or feels off, trust your instincts and proceed with caution. Take your time to research and verify offers or requests before taking action.
  • Report Suspicious Activity: If you believe you’ve been targeted by fraud or have fallen victim to a scam, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and your local authorities. Reporting scams helps authorities track and prevent fraudulent activities.

Most importantly, do not be afraid to say NO!

Reporting Fraud

While it is important to report fraud to the police, here are a few reasons why it’s also important to report the CAFC (quoted from the website)

  • Information could link a number of crimes together, in Canada and abroad
  • Information could progress or complete an investigation
  • Reports show crime trends and allows for crime forecasting
  • It helps law enforcement, private and public sector, academia etc. to learn about the crimes and help with prevention and awareness efforts

If You’ve Become a Victim:

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Remember, these criminals are getting smarter and trickier. It can happen just about anyone.

  • Stay calm.
  • Collect your thoughts.
  • Contact your financial institutions.
  • Contact the CAFC.
  • Share with friends and family to help them avoid the same situation.
  • Learn and move forward! You got this.
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