Fraud Prevention Month

March is Fraud Prevention Month — thousands of Canadians are affected every year by fraud, leading to more than $37 million lost in 2020 alone. With COVID-19 scams unfortunately on the rise, ensure you and your loved ones are educated in the identification and prevention of fraudulent activities.

• Read the Top 10 Steps to Avoid Scams from the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island, which includes never send money to someone you have not met face-to-face, and only buy from secure websites (making sure the website has “https” in the URL)
• Stay up to date with current scams and types of fraud listed by Consumer Protection BC
• Review the Little Black Book of Scams from the Competition Bureau of Canada

• If you think you are a victim of fraud:
  • Immediately contact your bank or credit union if you believe your identity or money is at risk
  • Contact the police to report acts of fraud
  • Protect yourself with identity theft coverage with an applicable insurance provider.