Officials have launched a campaign this Fraud Prevention Awareness Month to help prevent Canadians, and local residents, from falling victim to fraud.
North Bay Police Deputy Chief Scott Tod tells BayToday there is a local impact with this type of crime.
“We know for sure from the statistics that we receive from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre that there are more than 100 victims within the North Bay/Callander area and that their total fraud loss is over $500,000 for 2018,” he says.
Jeff Thomson is Acting Staff Sgt with the RCMP Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in North Bay.
He tells BayToday says a lot of tactics are changing, how fraudsters communicate with victims and how they receive funds too.
“Now we’re seeing gift cards being used,” he says. “In no way or form would a goverment agency ever ask you to use a gift card to pay.”
Officials say in the past year Canadians have fallen victim to fraud, with losses totalling about $100 million.
Ontario victims lost about $45 million.
For tips and information on fraud prevention, check out http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

Meantime, West Nipissing Police remind the public to be wary of fraud.

They say they received two reports.

One indicated they were told they had won a Reader’s Digest Lottery and they had to send money somewhere.

The other involved somebody diverting a Verner resident’s mail to another city so they could use his information to apply for various credit cards in his name.

Police are investigating the incident.

Police say protect your personal information and contact police if you’re not sure whether someone or something is legit.

 

Filed under: Fraud prevention