Published in The BANAR September 2024
Don Kelly, BCA Safety Director
Scams seem to be everywhere.
Scenario 1: You get an email from your bank that says there has been an adjustment to your account and the bank owes you money. The email requests that you confirm your bank account number and the password, and the money owed to you will be deposited into your account immediately.
ALERT! No bank in Canada would do this.
Scenario 2: You get a phone call from someone who identifies himself as a police officer. He says your grandson has been involved in a vehicle accident and has been charged. You immediately ask if Johnny (your grand-
son) is okay. The caller, now knowing the name of your grandson, says Johnny is fine, but needs $800 for bail or he will be sent to jail.
ALERT! No police agency in Canada would do this.
These are just two of the many tactics that fraudsters use to get your money. In 2023, credit card fraud was the leading issue among bank customers, with 951 fraud-related complaints, an almost 350-per-cent increase from 2022. The Government of Canada reports that there were 41,988 victims of all types of fraud in 2023. There have
already been 15,941 cases reported so far this year.
So, what can you do to avoid these scams?
On September 26, don’t miss Stephanie Senecal from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) as she will explain the role of the CAFC, how you can recognize scams, and how you can defend yourself against fraudsters as part of the Discovery Café series.
Questions? Please email safety@blackburnhamlet.ca.