March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada. Throughout the month the MHPS Community Safety Unit will be sharing tips on how to recognize, reject and report common frauds and scams. This week’s focus is on cybercrimes and online scams.

Cybercrime makes up a large component of all frauds and scams reported each year and can include any type of fraud or scam that is committed over the Internet. This can include romance, online investment, marketplace, employment, loan, ticket sale, or phishing scams.

With our increased reliance on Internet-related technology, especially during the pandemic, fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to scam trusting individuals. Police have observed an increase in “data breach” information use by criminals where they are able to obtain personal information which can lead to identity theft and misuse of credit card and banking information. These “data breaches” can unfortunately occur to any business who stores customer information electronically, including loan companies, online gaming systems and online sales/delivery services. If you receive notification from a trusted source, such as your bank or telecommunications service provider, advising that you may have been subject to a “data breach”, it is suggested that you immediately change all passwords and ensure that they are strong passwords (using different characters, numbers, and letters in no particular sequence). As a general safeguard, it is always good to cycle or change your passwords multiple times a year.

Each year, especially around tax return time, the number of complaints received from people reporting a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam will increase.

In most cases, the target will receive a call that will be displayed as a local phone number. Upon answering the call, the target will hear an automated message where the caller will identify themselves as being from the CRA. The automated voice will accuse the person of owing money and will also make threats to have the person arrested and charged. The automated recording will then direct the person to “press 1 to speak to an agent”. If the person presses 1, a person representing themselves as an agent of the CRA will begin asking questions that will ultimately lead to the scammer attempting to obtain personal information such as their SIN or credit card information. They may also request the person to purchase iTunes/Google Play gift cards or other types of gift cards to pay off their debt and instruct them to call back with the card codes. The cards will then be used by the scammer to sell on the black market.

The MHPS suggests that anyone receiving one of these automated calls, immediately hang-up. The CRA DOES NOT use automated calling systems. They already have your Social Insurance Number on file. They will NEVER ask for payment in the form of gift cards.

Sometimes, this scam will vary slightly and the caller will identify themselves as a police officers and advise the victim that their SIN has been compromised and request that the victim confirm their number over the phone.

Another variation is when someone gets a call from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) advising that a parcel was seized at the border and a warrant was issued for your arrest. This is a scam in hopes that the person receiving the call wants to resolve the issue.

To protect against these common frauds, it is important to remain vigilant and NEVER provide personal or financial information over the phone. Likewise, never comply with an unsolicited phone caller who demands payment in gift cards. No legitimate business will do this.

Always remember:

• The CRA will never call and threaten to have you arrested for not paying your taxes or ask for payment in the form of gift cards or prepaid credit cards.
• The CBSA will not notify you of seized parcels and warrants for your arrests through an automated phone call.
• If you are contacted in any of these ways, always confirm with the actual business directly. Look up the phone number online and do not use the call back number that the caller has provided. Do not trust your call display. It may say Police or ABC but in reality, it is a scammer.

If your workplace sells gift cards, you can also help by being on the lookout for potential victims and inform them about this scam. Victims may seem stressed and agitated as they are purchasing a large amount of gift cards. It is recommended that clerks ask customer what the purchase is for and suggest they contact police before they make the purchase if the circumstances seem suspicious.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a similar scam and has lost money due to a fraud contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481 to report.

Due to the extremely high volume of fraudulent call attempts, if you have received a fraudulent call but are not a victim (meaning you have not shared your personal information, bank information, and have not lost money) then there is no need to report or contact police.

To keep yourself in the loop about Fraud Prevention Month activities occurring provincially, follow the hashtag #FPM2022 on social media or visit the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association website at https://www.albertacrimeprevention.com/fraud-prevention-month/#FPM2022

For more information about frauds and scams visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.

Media Contact:

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