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Fraud Awareness
Protect yourself from scams & fraud
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Scammers can target any Canadian or Canadian business. Here are some tips and tricks to protect you from scams and fraud. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it is.
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Don’t be intimidated by high-pressure sales tactics. If a telemarketer tries to get you to buy something or to send them money right away: • Request the information in writing • Hang up Watch out for urgent pleas that play on your emotions.
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Don’t be afraid to say no
Do your research
Always verify that the organization you’re dealing with is legitimate before you take any other action: • Verify Canadian charities with the Canada Revenue Agency • Verify collection agencies with the appropriate provincial agency • Look online for contact information for the company that supposedly called you, and call them to confirm • Verify any calls with your credit card company by calling the phone number on the back of your credit card If you’ve received a call or other contact from a family member in trouble, talk to other family members to confirm the situation. Watch out for fake or deceptive ads, or spoofed emails. Always verify the company and its services are real before you contact them.
Don’t give out personal information
Beware of unsolicited calls where the caller asks you for personal information, such as: • Your name • Your address • Your birthdate • Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) • Your credit card or banking information If you didn’t initiate the call, you don’t know who you’re talking to.
Beware of upfront fees
Many scams request you to pay fees in advance of receiving goods, services, or a prize. It’s illegal for a company to ask you to pay a fee upfront before they’ll give you a loan. There are no prize fees or taxes in Canada. If you won it, it’s free. As We Age • Seniors Resource Guide • 2021
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Protectyour youronline online accounts accounts Protect
Bytaking takingthe the following following steps, steps, you you can can better better protect protect By youronline online accounts accounts from from fraud fraud and and data data breaches: breaches: your Createaastrong strong password password by: by: Create Using aa minimum minimum of of 88 characters characters including including • • Using upper and and lower lower case case letters, letters, and and at at least least 11 upper number and and aa symbol symbol number Creating unique unique passwords passwords for for every every online online • • Creating account including including social social networks, networks, emails, emails, account financial and other accounts financial and other accounts Using aa combination combination of of passphrases passphrases that that are are • • Using easy for you to remember but hard for others easy for you to remember but hard for others toguess guess to Enablemulti-factor multi-factor authentication authentication • • Enable Onlylog loginto into your your accounts accounts from from trusted trusted sources sources • • Only • Don’t reveal personal information over social • Don’t reveal personal information over social media media Learnmore moreabout about securing securing your your accounts accounts by by visiting visiting Learn www.getcybersafe.gc.ca www.getcybersafe.gc.ca Government of of Canada Canada ~~ Government
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