March is Fraud Prevention Month, and Richmond RCMP is alerting the public to increasing frauds and raising awareness on how to avoid being defrauded.
Impersonation fraud is one type that has been on the rise, RCMP say.
This occurs when a fraudster pretends to be someone else, such as a trusted organization, celebrity or service to deceive a victim into providing money, information or access to their accounts.
Credit card fraud trends
Richmond RCMP Economic Crime Unit (ECU) has recently observed an increase in in-person credit card fraud schemes, where fraudsters contact victims and go to their homes to collect what they allege are compromised bank cards, which may later be used by criminals to make large purchases.
In other cases, credit card fraud occurs as a result of lost or stolen wallets, vehicle break-ins or other forms of theft.
After getting a victim’s card, criminals may use it to make purchases before it is reported lost or stolen.
The RCMP offer the following tips to protect yourself against credit card fraud:
- Limit the amount of personal information shared publicly, which may be used to target you directly.
- Conduct a credit check annually to detect any unauthorized activity.
- Do not leave valuables in vehicles.
- Make use of digital wallets when possible to reduce reliance on physical cards.
Tech support scams
Tech support scams continue to be a concern identified by the ECU, with criminals impersonating well-known technology companies to defraud victims.
In this scam, victims receive a pop-up message on their computer warning of malware or illegal activity, and are directed to call a phone number for support.
The scammers give instructions to the victims, resulting in gaining remote access to the victim's computer, stealing banking details and other personal information.
In some cases, victims are instructed to buy gift cards to resolve the technical issue, and to provide the scammer with the gift card numbers and PINs.
The following are tips to protect yourself against tech support scams:
- Never click on pop-up links or call the phone numbers provided.
- If you receive a suspicious alert, seek an opinion from a trusted third-party.
- You can always unplug your computer and use services from reputable companies to fix any malware issues.
- Legitimate tech companies will never ask you to purchase gift cards to fix your computer.
- If you believe a scammer may have access to your information, change all passwords and login information.
Community outreach and education
Richmond’s ECU regularly engages with the community to raise awareness about fraud prevention.
ECU Officers recently attended an outreach event at the Chabad in Richmond, discussing credit card fraud, phishing scams, investment fraud, and the use of AI in scams.
Another session was conducted at the Yaohan Centre, where officers engaged with shoppers on the importance of fraud recognition and prevention strategies.
"Education is our strongest weapon against fraud," said Cpl. Denise Kam with Richmond RCMP Economic Crime Unit.
"Discussing frauds and scams regularly with friends and family can go a long way towards reducing the number of victims and helping keep our community safe. If you receive an unexpected offer or request for assistance, always verify its legitimacy through offline methods or a different communication platform, even if it’s from a source you think you recognize."
Richmond RCMP’s ECU encourages everyone to have frequent conversations with friends and family about scams and warning signs, and to take steps to report it if you’ve been victimized.
Parents and caregivers are urged to educate children on identifying phishing attempts on electronic devices, and the importance of verifying online requests before responding.
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