This year for fraud prevention month, the New Brunswick RCMP's Financial Crime Unit is hoping to educate the public on the many types of scams that are circulating in the province.
Phishing scams have gained in popularity in recent years, and are ploys by fraudsters to obtain an unsuspecting person's personal or financial information. The common methods that fraudsters use to obtain this information are:
- Email or website name spoofing
- Urgency
- Offers or refunds of money
- Requests to click links, fill out forms online, or scan a QR code
Fraudsters will usually pose as a trusted entity such as a government agency or your financial institution.
Once a victim's personal information is obtained, the information can be used to commit other frauds. For example, a fraudster can create fake identity documents with a victim's name and personal details on it. They can subsequently apply for credit in the victim's name and disappear with the money.
How to avoid phishing attempts:
- Don't click on links, respond to, or download attachments in unsolicited messages by text, email, or social media.
- Look for spelling errors in the content of the message.
- Don't trust messages just because the email address looks legitimate. Keep in mind no government or law enforcement agency will ever contact you to offer funds via email or e-transfer.
What to do if you are a victim of phishing:
- If you have been targeted by a fraud attempt, but not victimized, it is still important to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre either online at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/ or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. The information can be useful intelligence to link crimes together or progress a related investigation.
- If you believe you have provided your personal information to a fraudster:
- Report the occurrence to your local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Advise your bank, credit bureau and other service providers that you have been victimized so they can take preventative action.