March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada.  Through out the month the MHPS Community Safety Unit will be sharing tips on how to recognize, reject and report common frauds and scams.  This week focuses on indentify thefts and phishing scams.

Phishing scams are one of the most common fraud attempts that happen. The word “phishing” comes from the way it is done. The fraudster will replicate a valid company or person’s email address and send out emails that act as a lure to attract potential victims. The more lures (emails) used, the more potential victims that can be reached. Phishing scams not only occur over the internet but can also occur over the phone or traditional letters mailed to the general public. The goal is to get your personal information or money.

Look out for emails, phone calls, or letters claiming that you have won a prize but need to call in or respond to an email to verify your winnings. Often times you will be asked to call in to a phone number, which requires you to pay a price per minute or flat rate. Some phishing scams will appear to be from an institution you are currently involved with and will ask that you to provide some personal information such as a credit card number or social insurance number. This should be a warning sign as your financial institution will already have this information on file.

There are several ways to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams:

• Never respond to unsolicited requests from a company requesting personal information.
• If you receive a notification that you have won a prize from a contest that you have never participated in, do not respond to it.
• Block 1-900 phone numbers from calling you through your local telephone provider.
• If you receive a request from a company you are currently involved with, whether you work for them or are a client and they are requesting money or personal information, contact your local branch of that institution directly to ensure it’s real.
• If you receive unsolicited mail, either via email or regular mail, do your research on the company before conducting business with them. The Better Business Bureau is a great resource to confirm if they are a legitimate business with a positive reputation.

The best rule of thumb to protect yourself is to always be skeptical. Educate yourself on ways to protect your hard-earned money and seek advice if you are concerned that something might be a scam. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website (www.antifraudcentre.ca) is a great resource and contains information about many different fraud types.

Media Contact:

Sgt Adam Gregory
Medicine Hat Police Service
Community Support Unit
Ph: 403-529-8451