It’s the time of year to spend with loved ones and enjoy the holiday season.
Unfortunately, it is also the season for an increase in scams. Every year during the holiday season police are dealing with significant increases in fraud attempts, and it is important to remain vigilant.
Police are asking the public to be aware of these scams so you can know them when you see them. It is also important to speak to friends or family who are more susceptible to these fraud attempts.
One of the more popular holiday scams involves fake charities. This is where a fraudster will use the name of a legitimate organization to collect money from well-intentioned individuals. It is important to confirm the charity is registered with Canada Revenue Agency before providing your financial information.
You should also be wary when shopping online, as fraudsters will often post fake ads for items that do not even exist. Often, the price is too good to be true which leads people to make hasty decisions. It is important to always research before you buy online.
Some other popular holiday scams include:
Gift cards: Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give a gift. They should also be considered like cash; once they are exchanged, it is unlikely that you are getting your money back. Gift cards are not meant for payments and no legitimate business or organization will request these.
Counterfeit Merchandise: Counterfeiters may create legitimate looking websites and offer products that appear to be a huge discount. Only when the buyer receives the merchandise will they learn that what they’ve purchased isn’t what they expected. Protect yourself by thoroughly researching the website and business before making a purchase. Search for reviews, away from the seller’s website, about the seller and business.
Secret Santa: You may have noticed multiple gift exchange posts on your social media feeds. This may seem like a fun activity where you only have to send one gift and receive multiples in return. Unfortunately, this exchange collects some of your personal information and also hides a pyramid scheme where only those on the top profit. Pyramid schemes are illegal in Canada.
Phishing emails and texts: You may receive messages claiming to be from a recognizable source (like a bank or recognized service provider) asking you to submit or confirm your information. They may even include a malicious link. DO NOT click any links in unsolicited emails. Instead, independently find the organization’s official website. You also have the right to hang up the phone on any unsolicited caller. To verify the caller represents the organization they claim to, independently contact that organization on your own terms.
This is just a sample of some of the many scams and frauds reported during the holiday season. To learn more about the scams mentioned above, or to learn about other scams, you can visit the Canada Fraud Centre Online
