Gatineau Police warn against fraud for Fraud Prevention Month 2022

Sophie Demers

 

Gatineau Police (SPVG) are using the month of March, fraud prevention month, to raise public awareness about the risk of fraud and to highlight that it can happen to anyone. The SPVG handles more than a thousand complaints each year related to fraud and identity theft.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre there were $34 million in financial losses related to fraud in 2021 in Canada for 67,533 victims.
The pandemic has also significantly changed the way people engage with one another and how they consume. E-commerce has grown enormously in popularity and online fraud schemes have multiplied in the last two years.
According to the SPVG, as with all types of crime a large number of fraud cases go unreported to authorities. This means that there are more fraud cases than reported. The SPVG states that fraud affects Canadian citizens across the country and therefore Gatineau residents are no exception.
The SPVG warns that no one is safe from fraud. These individuals are clever and how to manipulate the victim. The lack of reporting fraud cases may be caused by prejudices against victims such as believing they are extremely naive or vulnerable. This is not the case.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre there are many ways an individual can protect themselves. First, in the case of telemarketers, request information in writing or hang up, and be aware of high-pressure tactics. Individuals should do research on any organisation that contacts them by phone and ensure that they are registered.
If the call concerns a family member, taxes, or won prizes, individuals are encouraged to double check the information or simply hang up. Residents are warned to avoid giving out personal information by phone.
For more information visit www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
The SPVG also invites Gatineau residents to follow the service's various social media accounts in order to be informed and discuss the topic of fraud throughout the month of March. They will also be sharing ways to detect fraud and sharing tips on how individuals can protect themselves.