BRANTFORD POLICE SERVICE

The key to fraud prevention is education and awareness!

Fraud investigators are encouraging people to resist being pressured into giving anyone money without first verifying the person?s name and authenticity of their story. Consider calling a neighbour, a family member, or friend to assist you before handing out any money. Fraudsters often develop a ploy to receive money by pleading to the emotions of unsuspecting and generous residents by meeting with them in person, over the telephone, or through the internet.

 

• If it seems too good to be true; it most likely is!
• Always shred important documents, that have personal information on them
• Be extra cautious about giving out your social insurance number
• Report suspicious activity to police, to protect others from being caught in a scam
• If you have been targeted by fraud, don't be embarrassed, you are not alone. Report the incident to police.

A new form has been developed, with input from major financial institutions, to assist victims of fraud with providing the required consent from their bank, which will aid police in further investigating the crime.
Upon completing and signing the form, the victim may either forward the document to the investigator or fax it to their bank.
Using this form will expedite the investigation and may even exonerate a suspect or help locate a missing person who has used their debit or credit card.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BEING A VICTIM OF FRAUD:

• Never give out personal information/credit card information to an unknown source over the telephone and/or unsecured email
• You can stop a telephone scam by hanging up
• When contacted about your personal accounts never click on a web link attached to the email to verify or confirm
• Confirm with family members or your bank before transferring any funds
• Never agree to give cash to anyone unknown to you in exchange for a cheque written to you by that individual
• Educate yourself by visiting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website at www.antifraudcentre.ca

  

Current crime trends include Canadian Revenue Agency Scam, grandparent scams, secret shopper scams, identity theft, "skimming operations"', as well as internet fraud involving money orders.

This scam involves an unknown person identifying themselves as an investigator with the Canadian Revenue Agency. The victims are being asked to provide her social insurance number. The fraudsters are randomly telephoning citizens posing as investigators from Revenue Canada. The common theme with this scam is that caller identifies himself as an investigator with Revenue Canada and reports that the victim has failed to respond to numerous communications from CRA and they now have limited time to pay a debt owed to the government or risk going to jail. The fraudster uses aggressive tones and high pressured tactics to scare the victim into transferring money to an account. The Brantford Police Service is encouraging people to resist being pressured into giving anyone money or personal information without first verifying the person's name and authenticity of their story. Consider calling a neighbour, a family member, or friend to assist you before handing out any money or disclosing information.

CRA Scam - How to protect yourself

• DO NOT take immediate action.
• Verify that what you are being told is the truth.
• Ask yourself why the CRA would be asking for personal information over the phone or e-mail that they likely already have on file.
• Contact the CRA or your accountant to confirm that you in fact owe back taxes, or are entitled to a refund, before providing any personal or banking information.
• The CRA is aware of these scams and wish to remind Canadians that they will only send payments by direct deposit or by cheque

Grandparent Scam

This scam involves elderly persons being contacted, advising that a family member "usually a grandchild" has been arrested in a foreign country, needs medical attention, or is in need of car repairs far from home. The caller requests money to be wired to some location in the world in aid of the family member. This scam is designed to make the elderly person panic and wire the money. We recommend potential victims to contact their family members and make attempts to verify the validity of the claim.

Be on the Lookout for the Overpayment Scam

This crime unfolds with a victim placing an advertisement in the local newspaper for items they are attempting to sell. A response is received indicating that the suspect is very interested in the item. The suspect will then send the victim a cheque, usually double the amount, ask the victim to cash the cheque, and then forward the remainder of the money through the use of a money-transfer service. Once the money is sent, the suspect leaves the victim responsible for the entire amount due to the cheque being counterfeit, "washed" or stolen. A "washed" cheque is one which has been washed with a solution-based product that basically strips the tender of any printing. We urge you to be careful when selling your property, especially when presented with a cheque that exceeds the selling price.

Protect Your Data on Your Wireless Devices

Oftentimes, people store confidential personal and work information on their wireless device, whether it is a cell phone, tablet, or laptop computer. If the device is lost or stolen you and your place of employment's security could be compromised. To learn how to protect yourself, click here.

Beware of Dumpster Divers

Be careful when discarding personal documents. Criminals who specialize in fraud are known to "dumpster dive"? in order to obtain this personal information to apply for credit or new identification. We suggest you shred all personal information so you don't become a victim of this illegal activity.

Be Cautious When Using Your Credit Card or Debit Card

Be careful when using your credit or debit cards for purchases in any type of business. Investigations have been completed locally where cameras have been found strategically placed in order to view your PIN number when completing a transaction. Furthermore, it has been discovered that certain debit devices have been tampered with where card information is duplicated when the card has been swiped. Do not hesitate to report suspicious activities of this nature. Remember; change your pin numbers frequently.