Fraudsters and scammers do not rest during the holidays and so officials of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are working with the police overtime to warn Canadians about the 12 common types of holiday fraud in Canada.
Fraud Charities
This is the season for giving and the season for fake charities that solicit help for an organization that does not exist. People are easier to get money from during the holidays and often do not check if charities are legitimate.
Fake Ads for Online Shopping
Some ads post fake products but some ads don?t even have products at all. Nothing will be delivered to you after payment and by then it is way past the deadline for refunds. The ?store? can also just claim that your purchase was lost by the courier due to the holiday rush.
Romance Scams
People are more emotionally vulnerable around the holidays and so romance scammers use the holidays to their full advantage. Watch out for people on dating sites who use the holidays to indirectly ask for money by using a sob story.
Raffle Winning Notifications
You cannot win in something that you did not join. That is the first tell-tale sign for this scam. Next is that the fraudsters will ask you to deposit a small amount as a claiming fee for your prize. There is no prize and the personal data that you provided will probably get compromised too.
Phishing Texts and Emails
These may come in the guise of a promo, an ad, or a warning; all wanting you to follow a link and input your details where they can be stolen.
Secret Santa Scam
This comes as a gift exchange opportunity on social media that says you can get many gifts by sponsoring one. Not only does this gain access to your sensitive information but oftentimes, only those at the top are the ones benefiting as far as gifts go.
Fake Merchandise
They?re usually easy to spot with their flashy ads featuring huge discounts that got links to shady websites.
Shady Goods and Services
It is best to exercise caution when buying and selling online, especially when there are offers that seem too good to be true. Some buyers may not pay you or attempt to get your personal information to prove that you?re ?real?.
Gift Card
Gift cards are an easy way to give a gift but some gift cards may be fake or already used and it will be too late to do anything once found out.
Shocking Emergency
You?ll be called on a fake emergency stating that your loved one is hurt and you must supply their personal details. Another version may ask you for money and your personal details as well.
Identity Fraud
Due to plenty of online shopping and the many crafty ways that scammers can access your personal data, your identity may be used for shady activities. It is best to keep tabs of your credit score and your mail in case you get bills for things you did not purchase or use.
Identity Theft
Your identity can be easily stolen just by a few pieces of information about you such as your social security number, your card, etc. Never share personal information and passwords with anyone.
We hope that with this summary of common holiday scams, you are now better equipped to protect yourself. If you suspect that your details may have been compromised, we can help you fix that and avoid fraud. Contact us today!
