(Toronto) Identity theft is one of the most common financial fraud cases in Canada, according to a new survey from payment processing company Interac.
According to the report released Tuesday, 42 percent of respondents said they had encountered scammers posing as representatives of official government institutions.
The results show that 41% were affected by phishing scams and 33% by scams involving fake bank, credit card and online accounts.
Rachel Jolicoeur, Director of Fraud Prevention at Interac, emphasized that we must not forget that fraudsters are professionals who act opportunistically.
“There is always a call to action and a sense of urgency,” she said, explaining how scammers work.
“As soon as you have this feeling, stop and examine the situation carefully. »
MMe Jolicoeur said people should be careful if they receive calls from people posing as government agents or financial advisors or calling about international packages.
She also pointed out that clicking on the wrong link online could result in you landing on phishing sites.
The Interac survey, which collected responses from 1,202 people online between September 28 and October 6, shows that 53% of respondents believe financial fraud is commonplace in Canada. Four in ten people said they were afraid of becoming a victim.
Scam Alerts
In recent months, the federal government has repeatedly warned Canadians about ongoing scams.
The Canada Revenue Agency has a page dedicated to nearly a dozen types of fraud, such as: Such as SMS scams related to Climate Action Incentive payment, those offering a GST credit/HST, SMS scams to access agency accounts, and phone calls demanding payment.
“The agency will not use offensive language or demand immediate payment over the phone,” the CRA says in reference to extortion committed over the phone demanding payment.
Examples of fraudulent communications via telephone, letter, email, SMS and online reimbursement form are also listed.
The importance of sharing
If someone falls victim to a scam, MMe Jolicoeur reminds us not to panic. If they lose money, they can contact their financial advisor and credit reporting agency and consider filing a police report.
She also suggested raising awareness among friends, families and extended networks, adding that criminals could use a variety of scams – trying to get money, banking details, personal information and data that belongs to themselves couldn’t get there.
“Nothing is more effective than sharing this story,” M said.Me Treasure.
Aseel El-Baba, co-founder of Mindfulness & Money and in-house financial therapist at Conscious Economics, emphasized that it is also important for people to take a moment to reflect on their experiences to understand what went wrong.
“Forgive yourself,” she confided. We are often very critical of ourselves and quickly fall into blame. »
MMe El-Baba reported that his mother was a victim of fraud.
“The following weeks were very difficult for her emotionally,” she remembers. She blamed herself for falling for this scam. »
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