The North Bay Police Service is warning residents to educate themselves about possible scams during Fraud Prevention Month and help stop fraud with the TAKE 5, TELL 2 rule.
Whether you receive a call, text, or e-mail, remember to always:
- TAKE 5 – Scammers will try to pressure you into making a decision or purchase with claims of “Limited-time offers,” and “One-time deals.” Separate yourself from the person and take at least five minutes to think about whether or not you are being scammed. If a deal seems “Too good to be true,” it probably is.
- TELL 2 – If someone has tried to scam you, tell two people. Education is the best form of prevention and if we tell two friends we can all do our part in preventing frauds.
In 2020, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received over 101,000 fraud reports, amounting to nearly $160 Million in losses to victims. These numbers are a fraction of the total impact of fraud. The CAFC estimates that fewer than 5 per cent of victims report the fraud they fell victim to.
“No one should be embarrassed that they fell victim to a scam,” said Chief Scott Tod. “Scammers are professionals who take advantage of people every day. If you get an offer online, over-the-phone, or in-person that you think might be a scam, separate yourself and take at least 5 minutes to think about it. If you do identify a scam, tell two people so we are all educated. Remember, you have the power, not the fraudsters. If you are a victim of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. In order to stop fraud, we need to know about it when it happens.”
You can learn about the most common scams and how to avoid them by reading the Little Black Book of Scams.
