The New Brunswick RCMP is urging the public to speak to family members, especially seniors about fraud and scams. With the holiday season fast approaching, police are asking the public to be wary of scammers and fraudulent activity and are sharing tips on how to recognize and protect themselves.
"Most people being targeted are senior citizens that have limited access to the internet or who don't use social media, but are trusting of the callers and what they have to say" says Cst. Hans Ouellette, of the New Brunswick RCMP. "It's important to keep family members informed about scams so that they don't become a victim."
Over the past couple of weeks, the New Brunswick RCMP has received several reports for fraud, including the Canada Revenue Agency scam, as well as a scam where the public is told that a loved one is being held in custody until a payment is received. The RCMP is also aware of many other scams that are circulating.
You can help your loves ones by sharing the following tips and information with your loved ones.
What to do:
- If you receive one of these calls, do not provide confidential personal or financial information over the phone or online.
- Instead, call the company or institution in question using a phone number from a reputable source – not one provided by the suspected fraudster – so you can verify whether the request is real and what you need to do.
- If you believe a fraudster is calling you, hang up the phone immediately. It's not rude, and could help protect you. Report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
When to call police:
- If you have been a victim of fraud, contact your local police and your financial institution.
- If you have not been defrauded, there is no need to call the police.
For further information on the types of frauds and scams that are currently circulating, and on how to best protect yourself, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.