SCAM, DECEPTION, FRAUD, RACKET

The list of names for the things criminals do to try and defraud honest Canadians goes on and on.

March is SCAM awareness month, and this years theme is recognize, reject and report.

Sgt. Kelly Birting with the Regina Police Service says people can have a huge amount of impact by using the “tell two” strategy when it comes to information about fraud.

“If you have heard information on fraud today – tell two people about it. You may have a lot of people you regularly communicate with who don’t know about fraud that is out there.” Sgt. Birting says spreading information about ongoing fraud, and strategies to deal with it, helps build awareness which is a crucial weapon in stopping fraud in it’s tracks.

One strategy often used by fraudsters is deliberately putting the person they are trying to harm in a high pressure scenarios where they are forced to make hard often emotional decisions. Claims of legal action against the  In one scam the person calling will claim to be connected with an individuals grandkids, threatening harm, or giving the false impression that the grandkids are in need of some form of help.

“When you receive a phone call or an email any type of contact with another person, take the information, and then take a few minutes to think about what they have asked you to do, then take time to ask if that makes sense,” says Sgt. Birting.

Birting says it is important to approach these calls from a place where you can stop and think critically about the call.

Never react to a call out of fear, panic or desperation, recognize the fact that you are being targeted as part of a scam. Always reject fraud by protecting your personal information.

Finally, report fraudulent calls to friends, family and most importantly the police.

Canadians lost 106.4 million dollars to fraud in 2020.