The Jasper RCMP have recently noticed an increase in online and telecommunication scams in recent months. Consequently, the Jasper RCMP would like to employ its efforts to help provide tips to fellow Jasper residents on how to avoid becoming a victim to these types of crimes.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, the Christmas holidays are a time where fraudsters peak and thousands of Canadian fall victims to scams. In fact, in 2021, reported financial losses to scams have reached historic levels. Statistics from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center illustrate that financial losses to scams in Canada have exceeded $284 million, which when compared to the year 2020, accounts for a 70% increase. Unfortunately, this number is expected to continue to rise. Having said that, the Jasper RCMP have formulated a list of tips to avoid falling victim to these types of crimes as well as a list of scams to look out for over the Christmas season.
1. Fraudulent Charities 鈥� Holidays are a busy time for legitimate charities looking for donations. On the other hand, it could also be a busy time for fraudsters posing as legitimate charities in order to steal hard-earned money from Canadians. Be sure to confirm the charity is registered with Canada Revenue Agency before providing any personal or financial information at:. If you do not have access to the internet, make sure to speak to family and friends prior to donating in order to see if others have heard of the charity before. Always remember to refuse to donate if you ever feel heavily pressured to do so by any charity.
2. Emails, Texts or Phone calls 鈥� It is very common to receive messages, emails or phone calls from unknown sources claiming to be a recognizable institution such as Financial institutions, telecommunications companies, among others, asking you to submit or confirm personal/financial information. This may even be accompanied with a malicious link. Do not respond to any emails, phone calls or texts from someone claiming to be a recognizable source. If you are ever unsure, ask a friend, family member or call the recognized institution yourself to confirm the validity of a text, email or phone call.
3. Prize Notification 鈥� This is a very common technique for fraudsters to use in order to gain access to personal or financial information. This may look like a letter, email, text, or phone call stating that you have won a prize and that you must confirm personal or financial information, or even send money to someone to cover fees or taxes associated with the prize. Always remember that if you did not enter a contest, you cannot win a prize. If you did enter a contest, always remember that you should never have to pay fees in advance as they are always removed from total winnings. Do not give out any personal, financial information or any form of currency if you are unsure.
4. Online Shopping 鈥� Fraudsters may pose as sellers of commercial goods and post fake ads for items that do not exist on various websites. Typically, the listing price for said items for sale will be unusually low. In other words, the price for these items may very well be too good to be true. Always use caution when purchasing items online. A good tip is to research the seller or the validity of a website before making a purchase. Whenever possible, try to exchange goods in person or use a credit card with theft/fraud protection to make a purchase on a reliable website.
5. Gift Card Scams 鈥� Many fraudsters will attempt to pose as legitimate businesses or organizations in order to have Canadians send them gift cards loaded with large amounts of money. Always remember that no legitimate business, organization or institution will request or accept gift cards as a form of payment. Being asked to use a gift card as a form of payment should always raise alarms that someone is trying to defraud you.
Key pointers on how to avoid becoming a victim of a scam according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
- Don鈥檛 be afraid to say no or hang up the phone.
- Do you research before making a purchase online.
- Don鈥檛 share personal or financial information with strangers if you are unsure who is contacting you.
- Do your research on the company.
- Call the company鈥檚 phone line in order to confirm the legitimacy of the entity contacting you.
- Beware of upfront fees.
- There are no prize fees in Canada. Also, if you did not enter a contest, you did not win.
- Protect your computer and online accounts.
- Have a strong password with a minimum of 8 characters, a combination or upper and lower case letters and at least 1 unique symbol.
- Do not click on any suspicious links, emails, or attachments via text message or email.
Lastly, keep in mind that if ever you suspect in any way that someone is trying to defraud you, or has defrauded you, seek help through a friend or family member and report it to your local RCMP Detachment, or the Canadian Anti Fraud Center. Finally, always remember that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Noted above are but a few examples of the various ways in which fraudsters may attempt to gather information or money from Canadians, especially during the holiday season. This isn鈥檛 meant to scare anyone but rather to raise awareness on the various ways fraudsters attempt to attack Canadians. Use caution, do your research and seek help or guidance from a trusted source when needed.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of fraud or cybercrime should report it to the Jasper RCMP Detachment and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre鈥檚 online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Alberta鈥檚 Crime Stoppers toll free 1-800-222-tips (8477) or submit a secure web tip at .
Submitted by Jasper RCMP
