March is Fraud Prevention Month and the RCMP will be sharing tips throughout the month to help you and your loved ones recognize fraud.
The impacts both financial and emotional can be devastating. Although there are many types of scams out there, there are warning signs, or fraud alerts, to look for.
If you receive a call, text or email with any of these common fraud alerts, proceed with caution:
Payment type – Fraudsters often request payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards or E-Transfer.
Urgency – Be suspicious if an email, text or phone call includes a sense of urgency.
Unknown/Unsolicited - Messages claiming to be from businesses or organizations that you have not dealt with previously.
Threats – Threats of arrest, deportation or suspension of your travel visa or your tax accounts if immediate payment is not made.
The best way to help prevent these scams is through awareness and education. Sharing this information with others may help someone from becoming a victim. For information about common scams and ways to protect yourself, visit: The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre
Follow us on Facebook (Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Prince Edward Island @rcmpgrcpei) and Twitter (@RCMPPEI) for more tips. If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
It's important to note that police deal with cases where someone has been defrauded and you should call your nearest police detachment to report, not 9-1-1 as that holds up emergency calls where a life may be in danger. Officers at the detachment will deal with issues where a crime has been committed; but, if you are reporting a near miss of a scam, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for assistance.