Top 5 reported telephone scams
During Cyber Security Awareness Month's Phone Week, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) would like to remind you to be vigilant of unsolicited telephone calls. Telemarketing fraud is still the most reported fraud to the CAFC; accounting for 43 % of reports received.
Fraud type | Reports | Victims | Losses (CAD) |
---|---|---|---|
Extortion | 8,179 | 2,156 | $10,026,000 |
Personal information | 3,500 | 1,533 | NA |
Service | 1,678 | 484 | $3,999,300 |
Bank investigator | 1,090 | 380 | $3,322,900 |
Prize | 766 | 158 | $1,742,700 |
Note: It is estimated that less than 5% of fraud victims report their occurrences to the CAFC.
Top tips to protect yourself
- Criminals use "call-spoofing" to mislead consumers
- This technology is easily available
- Do not assume that phone numbers appearing on your call display are accurate
- If a call does not seem right, hang up
- No legitimate institution will threaten you over the telephone
- Never provide personal information over the phone to an unknown caller
- If you provide personal information, contact Equifax and Trans Union to place fraud alerts on your accounts
- Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself
- Remain current on frauds and protect others by sharing what you know
- Tell two others and ask them to do the same
- An unbroken chain of 25 people telling two would cover the entire population of Canada
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