In 2019 over 46,000 Canadians fell victim to fraud, and lost about $98-million, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
As of January 31st, over 3,000 Canadians have made reports of fraud so far this year, with losses totaling just over $4-million.
March is Anti-Fraud Month in Canada and the RCMP are asking the public to be aware of different types of scams and how to recognize them.
#FPM2020 https://t.co/cBPrTo3EK1
— RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador (@RCMPNL) March 2, 2020
According to the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre website, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself.
They say to do research to find out if an organization is legitimate before taking any further steps, to never give out personal information – such as your home address, date of birth, or sin number – to unsolicited callers, and to protect yourself online by being aware of malicious emails and popups and installing antivirus software.
As well, they warn of organizations asking for up front fees. It is illegal for a company to ask for an upfront payment before giving a loan. As well, there are no prize fees or taxes in Canada, so if you win something it is free.
Finally, they say to never let someone pressure you into buying something or giving out information and don’t be afraid to say no.