Fraud: Identify, Report and Prevent
Peel Regional Police is committed to sharing information to help keep community members and their families safe from falling victim to fraud, including how to spot and report fraudulent activity. Below you will find information on common frauds and scams, as well as other resources regarding fraud prevention.
For more information, please visit the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre website at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
Common Fraud and Scams:
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Fraud |
ATM scams involve criminals stealing debit or credit card numbers and corresponding pin codes when victims use ATM machines. This can result in unauthorized withdrawals from the victim's account. When credit and debit card information is stolen electronically, it's called card skimming. How to protect yourself?
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Credit and Debit Card Fraud |
If you believe your bank account has been compromised and unauthorized transactions have occurred, you should first contact the bank and then file a police report. You should also contact Equifax and Transunion to have your credit monitored. If the bank reviews your complaints and takes responsibility for the loss, they will report it to police and there is no need for you to report it. If the bank determines that you are responsible for the loss, you must get a letter in writing from them and follow up with the police. How to protect yourself?
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Emergency Scams |
Con artists will appeal to your emotions and demand immediate action, affecting your ability to use logic or ask questions. In one example an upset person calls or texts you stating they are a family member, and they may use the person's name and claim they need money to be bailed out immediately. A second person will take the phone, claiming to be an police officer or lawyer who will give you instructions on how to wire the money or direct you to put it in an envelope that will be picked up by a courier. How to protect yourself?• Courts will never ask for cash to bail our someone in custody and will require people to be present in court. |
Canada Revenue Agency Fraud Scam |
Con artists pretend to work for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. They request that you pay a bill immediately or they may tell you that you have a tax refund. The con artist then asks for personal or banking information which will allow the person to access your money. In one of these types of scams, the con artists phones you and demands you pay immediately, or you will go to jail or get deported. As fraudsters have become more sophisticated, they may send text messages that appear to be from the CRA or emails demanding payment or information. How to protect yourself?Remember, the CRA will not:
Click here for more tips from CRA on how to recognize scams and protect yourself.
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Financial Institutions Scams |
Beware of calls, emails or texts claiming to be from your financial institution. Fraudsters will ask you for personal and banking information, or in a text or email ask you to click on a link. How to protect yourself?
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Charity Scams |
A scammer may contact you and ask you for a donation to charity, association, foundation or a good cause. They will use high pressure tactics to get you to donate. They are not associated to the charity they claim to be collecting donations for. These fraudsters prey on the generosity of our community. Also, beware of deceptive crowdfunding ads. Make sure your donations are going to the right place or charity. How to protect yourself?
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Online Shopping |
Frauds and scams have become more sophisticated, especially in the way social media, text messaging and buy-and-sell websites are being used to deceive community members with legitimate-looking products, links and websites. To help protect yourself from fraud, it’s important to do a little research before clicking on that link via text or online that is promising huge discounts, money and products that seem too good to be true. Tips to protect yourself when shopping online:
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Gift Cards |
Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give a gift but remember that they are not meant to be used to pay for things such as legal fees or a tax bill. If you get a call from someone pressuring you to buy hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, we advise that you hang up – immediately. The caller may pose as a friend or family member who needs help, someone from the government or your bank, but please know that no legitimate business or organization will request gift cards for payment. If you receive a text or email from your employer to purchase gifts cards, always confirm that first with your boss or supervisor first. |
Service Scams |
Service scam fraudsters often claim to be either your existing service provider or offer you a service for a lower price. The most common ones are cellphone and internet provider scam calls. Don’t fall for a phone call from someone claiming to be from your service provider. They will request personal information over the phone, including your credit card number. Always locate the official phone number and follow up with a phone call that way. |
Taxi/Pizza Delivery Scam |
In this scam, there are often two people involved: one who poses as the driver of the fake taxi, while the other pretends to be a passenger who approaches the victim asking for help. This usually takes place in a parking lot of a plaza or mall. This is also the same approach with a pizza delivery scam. The fake passenger/pizza purchaser approaches the potential victim claiming the taxi driver/pizza delivery driver will not accept cash as payment for a fare/pizza and asks if the victim can use their own debit card or credit card to pay the fare/pizza, with the fraudster offering to pay them in cash. The victim then inserts their card into a modified point of sale terminal to pay the fare/pizza, and the machine records the PIN. The fake passenger then gives the victim cash to cover the fare/pizza. Meanwhile, the fake driver swaps the victim's real debit card or credit card for a fake one, which is then returned to the victim. The scammers then use the stolen debit card or credit card and PIN to withdraw funds from the victim's account. How to protect yourself?
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AI Generated Cryptocurrency Ad Scams |
Fraudsters are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate videos and make them appear like celebrities and politicians are endorsing cryptocurrency investments. As fraudsters become more sophisticated, these deepfakes look like real videos and they are often posted on social media platforms luring people and promising them high revenues with no risk. We encourage all investors in our community to do their research, not trust social media ads and unsolicited messages or emails, ask questions and invest their money carefully. How to protect yourself?
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How to Report Fraud:
- If you are a victim of a fraud, please attend your nearest Peel Regional Police Division/Community station to file a Fraud Report. Reports are not taken over the phone.
- For any inquiries about frauds/trends/scams, please contact the non-emergency line Fraud Bureau.
- If you have received any text, email, telephone call or mail from a scammer and have not provided any personal information or lost any money, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca to file a report.
Prevention Education
Peel Regional Police provides crime prevention lectures to the public regarding frauds and scams. For more information, visit: Courses and Seminars.
If you would like to request a presentation, please complete the appropriate form at:
More Resources
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – provides more advice on scams and frauds and current types of frauds.
Be Scam Smart – a series of videos by CRA Canada with tips to protect you from scams.
Cyber Crime, Computer and Internet Safety – provides information regarding online frauds and crimes.
Competition Bureau's Information Centre – provides information regarding laws businesses must follow.
Office of Consumer Affairs – provides information about common scams that occur in your own province or territory.
Equifax – provides credit reports and scores to consumers.
TransUnion Canada – provides credit reports and scores to consumers.
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