Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Be Aware & Avoid Being Victimized - March Is Fraud Prevention Month
March is Fraud Prevention Month, and in conjunction with other agencies from the community, the Winnipeg Police Service will be participating in events to help educate citizens on how they can protect themselves from fraud.
These events include:
National Twitter event – March 9th, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., 2 Good 2 B True Day at #2G2BT hosted by the Competition Bureau at @CompBureau
Twitter conversation - March 23rd, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., #WPSFraudSquad, you can even submit your questions in advance this year via twitter @wpgpolice
Fourth annual "Shred It" Event - Friday, March 31st, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. Vital Centre parking lot outside Silver City. A maximum of two bags or boxes per person to this FREE event please.
This year, the Winnipeg Police Service has created a video to raise awareness about a common fraud that affects hundreds of Canadians each year – the so-called Romance scam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uoJWviywG4
Romance scams are one of the most devastating frauds because not only is there a potential for a large loss of money, but an emotional loss as well. The scammer will imbed herself/himself into the victim's life and develop a relationship over a period of time. Eventually the scammer will begin to manipulate the victim to provide money for travel expenses, payments to foreign governments, or medical expenses.
Preventing fraud takes an awareness to recognize when an offering is false, in knowing how to protect your personal information, and in how to prevent yourself from falling to pressure tactics from con artists. These events are designed to provide education and reduce losses to involving fraud.
The Winnipeg Police Service would like to remind citizens of the following:
- Never send money to anyone you only know from an unsolicited phone call or email
- Avoid providing sensitive personal information online or over the phone in situations you did not initiate
- Research any request for money before making a commitment
- Find a "Fraud Buddy" – someone whose advice you respect – and run any request for money by them before you commit to it.
- Never feel pressured to make a quick decision, and
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Most victims of the Romance Scam that Winnipeg Police Service Financial Crime Unit has spoken with do not realize how much they have given the scammer, yet in 2016 the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre found that the average loss was $25,000.00 per victim. There were 831 people across Canada who lost $20,994,468.
If you, or someone you know, is involved in a potential romance scam, contact the Winnipeg Police Service to make a report. The public can also call the Financial Crime Unit at 204-986-6231 for assistance and advice, or go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website at
http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/fraud-escroquerie/types/romance-rencontre/index-eng.htm
|
For further information contact either:
Constable Jason Michalyshen, Public Information Officer
Constable Rob Carver, Public Information Officer
Kelly Dehn, Manager of Public Affairs
Phone: (204) 986-3061 | Fax: (204) 986-3267 | Email: WPS-PIO@Winnipeg.ca | Share this mailing with your social network by clicking on the appropriate link:   | |
No comments:
Post a Comment