Scams and Fraud - What to do
Scammers have ramped up their efforts in recent years in Canada. With the increase in technology it makes it easier to fall for their tactics. Here are a few tips to protect yourself and your business from scammers and frauds.
Individuals:
Don't fear to say NO!
Using high pressure tactics, scammers try to get information from you. Typical telemarketers will try to get you to buy something or to send them money in an urgent manner. Stay calm and always request the information or offers in writing. Ask them to email it to you. Most offers nowadays are sent via email, so it is very rare for a store or company to take the time to make individual calls. If they refuse or try to keep pushing the transaction, simply hang up. Another tactic to keep an eye out is urgent pleas that try to play on your emotions. If they are truly in need, they can find organizations that help with any sort of situation.
Google is your Friend
With everyone carrying phones or a tablet these days. It is easy to verify information. A quick Google search can help you out of a bind. Here is a list of things that will take you less than a minute to search.
1. Before taking any action, always make sure the organization you're dealing with is legitimate.
2. Verify Canadian charities by checking with the Canada Revenue Agency.
3. Verify collection agencies by contacting the appropriate provincial agency.
4. Search online for the contact information of the company that called you and call them to confirm.
5. Call the phone number on the back of your credit card to verify any calls with your credit card company.
6. If you receive a call or contact from a family member in trouble, talk to other family members to confirm the situation.
7. Be cautious of fake or deceptive ads and spoofed emails.
8. Before contacting a company, always verify its authenticity and the legitimacy of its services.
Always verify and confirm before taking any action.
Personal Information is Personal
Be cautious of unsolicited calls that request personal information from you. Personal information includes your name, address, birthdate, Social Insurance Number (SIN), and credit card or banking details. In most situations such as being contacted by your bank or any governmental institution, they should already have your information on file. If you didn't initiate the call, you cannot be certain about the identity of the person you're speaking to.
Upfront Fees is a RED Flag
Remember that it is illegal for any company or organization to ask for an upfront fee to be paid so that a prize or loan can be given. In Canada, anything you have won is completely FREE. There are no fees or taxes.
Protect your Computer
With browsing being a normal day to day activity in our daily lives, scammers have devised new ways to try and get our information. Be aware of shady websites. Do not click on random pop ups that appear. Read carefully and exit out. Also be aware of unsolicited downloads. Some of these may be viruses trying to infect your computer. Most computers nowadays have a built in antivirus software that scans and alerts you of unwanted or corrupted files. If asked to give remote access to your computer, always No. No legitimate company will tell you that your computer is infected. It is best to take it to your local technician for any assistance.
Sharing Images and Videos
With every device nowadays having an HD camera, it is only natural we want to share our lives online. But we must also be careful how much of our lives and with whom we share them. Especially when it is explicit content. Some hackers have found ways to access cameras remotely. One way to ensure this does not happen is to have your camera lense covered when not in use. A piece of electrical tape should do the trick. Or you can also disable your webcam when not in use.
Protect your online accounts
To protect your online accounts from fraud and data breaches, follow these steps:
1. Create a strong password by using at least 8 characters, including upper and lower case letters, at least 1 number, and a symbol.
2. Make sure to use unique passwords for each online account, including social networks, emails, financial accounts, and others.
3. Use a combination of passphrases that are easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
4. Enable multi-factor authentication for added security.
5. Only log into your accounts from trusted sources.
6. Avoid revealing personal information over social media.
What is Spoofing?
Scammers use spoofing to confuse and mislead people that they are communicating with a legitimate person, business or organization. Here are some of the main types of spoofing.
- Caller ID:
Scammers can manipulate the phone number that appears on your call display or in text messages. They can make it look like the call is coming from legitimate sources such as law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, government agencies, or service providers.
- Email:
Similar to Caller ID spoofing, scammers can manipulate the sender's email address to make it appear as if the email is coming from a legitimate source. With emails, you can look out for spelling errors in the email address or that it ends in something other than .com.
Website spoofing:
Scammers make fake websites that appear real. These websites can pretend to be a financial institution, a company offering jobs, an investment firm, or a government agency. Often, they use a website URL that is very similar to the legitimate company, but with a small spelling difference.
To protect yourself from spoofing follow these simple steps.
1. Don't assume that the phone numbers on your call display are accurate.
2. Hang up and call back when someone claims to be from your financial institution, service provider, law enforcement, or government agency.
3. If you receive a text message or email, directly call the company or agency using researched contact information, not the information provided in the message.
4. Avoid clicking on links in text messages or emails.
5. Always verify the URL and domain when visiting a website to ensure it is the official website.
Businesses
Similar to what we have posted above, to keep your business from being scammed you must also teach your employees what to look for. One of the ways scammers try and get businesses us by using fake invoices. They may use actual company names and logos to trick you into paying. Always double check that these invoices are real. A simple call to the company to verify. A great way to keep track is to have a contact list of businesses and companies that you work with on a regular basis. Another way to avoid this is by limiting the employees that are allowed to approve purchases or pay bills. Another thing to keep in mind is anomalies in orders. This may be larger than normal orders, multiple orders for the same product or big ticket items. Double checking orders can help stay on top of those orders that are real and those are scams. And as always, any unsolicited call should be immediately ignored.
Staying vigilant to who we talk to and what we share should become second nature in this world where technology evolves very quickly. Scammers will always be on top of ways to use said technologies to their advantage. Verifying information is just a google search away to keep you, your family and business safe from scammers.