**** RCMP Media Release
March is Fraud Prevention Month: learn more about common scams
This Fraud Prevention Month the Nova Scotia RCMP is reminding the public to always stay vigilant to help protect themselves against fraud, and sharing common scams to watch out for.
Fraud can happen to anyone at anytime. Scammers use sophisticated ways to target individuals from across Nova Scotia. The best way to fight these types of crimes is through awareness and using educated caution when dealing with fraudulent calls, texts, emails and messages.
The most common scams in Nova Scotia over the past year, include:
- Extortion: Scammers unlawfully obtain money, property or services through intimidation. This is also done through sextortion, a form of blackmail that involves threats to distribute intimate images or videos if money isn’t paid to the fraudster.
- Romance: Using fake profiles on social media and dating websites, scammers convince people to enter into a virtual relationship with the goal of having them send financial support. Often victims are asked to send compromising photos of themselves and are subsequently extorted for money.
- Investment: Scammers solicit investments into false or deceptive investment companies that promise higher-than-normal returns.
- Service: scammers offer services such as tech support, air duct cleaning, or new cellphone service plans, in attempt to steal personal information.
- Vacation: Scammers call pretending to be a well-known airline, cruise company or vacation travel retailer. They share that you have won a free trip and that you have to pay taxes or fee associated with the free trip.
- Spear phishing: Pretending to be from legitimate sources, and using what look to be legit email addresses, scammers try to get businesses or individuals to send them money.
- Job: These scams involve online ads and fake job interviews; victims are often directed to purchase and send gift cards using fraudulent cheques.
- Rental: Scammers will list a property that is not real or that they do not own. Next, they ask potential renters to pay deposits for the fake property.
- Bank investigator: Scammers call and ask for help catching fraudulent bank employees or offer help in resolving suspicious account transactions.
- Merchandise: Scammers create fake online ads online using resale sites, website pop-ups or fake company websites.
- Emergency: Fraudsters prey on people’s fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble and in need of financial support. (Also known as the ‘grandparent scam’).
- Prize: Scammers contact people claiming they’ve won, or have a chance at winning, a prize or lottery; the winner is then asked to pay taxes or fees related to the fake winnings.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a scam, report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Learn more, visit: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
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