March is fraud prevention month.
According to Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), since January 1st, they have responded to seventy-two fraud calls.
They also say that most victims of fraud never report it.
OPP have issued the following tips to prevent and avoid fraud:
- Never let anyone pressure you into acting immediately. Take your time, slow down. YOU are in control of your information
- Do not provide any personal information to someone you don’t know or trust
- Hang up a call or leave any website if you become uncomfortable during the interaction
- Never click on links provided to you in an unsolicited email, text message or on social media websites. These are opportunities that can be used by offenders to steal your information. For example, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will never send you a link asking for personal or financial information
- Navigate to legitimate websites and services on your own
- Never send money to anyone you don’t know. A demand for immediate payment by money transfers (Western Union, MoneyGram), gift cards (iTunes, Google Play or Amazon cards) or Bitcoin is a red flag and a sign to hang up the call or end the web session.
Reporting helps identify crime patterns, support investigations and prevent others from falling victim.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), in 2024, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received fraud reports totalling $642 million in victim losses, surpassing the previous record of $578 million in 2023.
The five most common frauds impacting Canadians were:
- Investment fraud represented $310 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $102.7 million.
- Spear phishing fraud (Business Email Compromise) represented $67.2 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $39.5 million.
- Romance fraud represented $58.4 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $19 million.
- Job scam represented $47.1 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $14.8 million.
- Extortion fraud represented $21 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $6.8 million.
If you suspect fraud or have been a victim, report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or online via the Fraud Reporting System.
