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What is Fraud?

Fraud is a crime that occurs when a person uses deception to obtain someone else’s personal or financial assets. Being a victim of fraud can have serious consequences, but the impacts can be lessened if you are aware of what is out there and know how to identify scams.

There are several types of fraud, including:

  • Covid-19 Fraud
  • Canada Revenue Agency Fraud
  • Investment Fraud
  • Bank Fraud
  • Internet Fraud
  • Identity Theft
  • Insurance Fraud

Covid-19 Fraud

Several different types of scams are occurring related to Covid-19. These scams are happening because people are using fear tactics related to Covid-19 that will manipulate people into letting their guard down and giving up money and other valuable information to these scammers. Here are the most frequent tactics used:

  • Victim receives a text message from the scammer, posing as a Government of Canada representative. The message contains a link for the victim to click on to apply for the relief program. This link asks for the victim's personal and banking information.
  • Victim is sent to a fraudulent website to apply for the Government's Emergency Response Benefit and have their identity stolen.
  • Victim's identity is stolen through social media; Facebook, Instagram, etc. Then the scammer uses it to apply for the Government's Relief Program. The victim is now unable to apply for financial relief.
  • Victim will receive an email from a scammer, this email will claim that you have been known to have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Then this email will have you print a document that you will have to fill out and bring to the nearest clinic. When you download the document on your computer to print, it will download malware onto your computer that will steal all of your information on your computer.
  • Scammers are posing as legitimate organizations via email and text messages with offers of free healthcare items if you click on a suspicious link. Other scammers are on buy-and-sell websites, “selling” healthcare items; however, when you send the money, you never receive the items.

Canada Revenue Agency Fraud

A scammer claims to be an employee of either the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada. They state that you did one or more of these offences:

  • Have a compromised SIN number
  • Have an outstanding case against you
  • Owe back taxes
  • Have unpaid balances
  • Committed a financial crime

They threaten that if you do not speak to them immediately, you'll be arrested, fined or even deported. They will ask that you send them either your credit card credentials or that you send them money to make up for the false accusations that they put on you. Remember the Canada Revenue Agency or any bank/government company will never ask you to do this over the phone or email!

Investment Fraud

Investment Fraud (also known as securities or stock market fraud) convinces investors to make purchase or sale decisions based upon false or misleading information. This can cause the investor to lose large amounts of money.  The “Ponzi scheme” is one of the most common schemes when dealing with Investment Fraud. It is named after Charles Ponzi, a man who became well-known for his fraud technique in 1920. The Ponzi scheme occurs when investors are promised exceptionally high financial returns or dividends. What the investors don’t know is that these returns are coming out of their own pocket, rather than a profit. 

Bank Fraud

Bank Fraud is when someone uses deception to obtain a person’s money that is in the hands of a financial institution. Sometimes the fraudster will pose as a worker for a financial institution and ask for the victim’s account information which they will then use to gain access to their accounts. Bank fraud also includes theft of your credit card and forging, cashing and counterfeiting cheques. Bank Fraud is often referred to as a “white-collar crime.”  

Internet Fraud

As technology continues to evolve, the internet is now being used as a medium for deception and the relaying of false information in order to perform fraudulent transactions.

Identity Theft

Identity Theft is a crime that occurs when someone else gains access to your personal information and uses it to assume your identity. They then use this to commit fraudulent offences such as applying for credit cards or purchasing expensive items. See the “Identity Theft” page for more information on this topic and how to protect yourself against this certain type of fraud.

Insurance Fraud

Insurance Fraud is when a consumer lies to obtain some benefit that they are not entitled to, or when an insurer lies to the consumer, denying them a benefit that they are entitled to. This can be done with insurance regarding health, home, automobile, life, etc. When talking about Insurance Fraud, there are often two types that are mentioned; soft and hard fraud. Soft fraud is when consumers tell “white lies to get the benefit they are seeking from their insurance companies. Hard fraud is when consumers go to extreme measures such as staging a car accident, injury, break-in, arson, loss, etc. to collect benefits from their insurers.

Common Schemes

When dealing with fraud, several deceptive schemes often occur. Below are some of the most common schemes that you should be aware of:

  • Phishing
  • Fake Charities
  • Telemarketing Scams
  • Job Scams
  • Contest Scams

Phishing

Phishing is when someone contacts you, claiming to be from a recognized company. They state that they need your personal information for some reason, perhaps something has gone wrong with your online account or that they need certain information to process something.
Remember, if the company is legitimate, they will not ask for your personal information online or over the phone!

Fake Charities

Sometimes you think you are being a good civilian by donating a sum of money to a worthy charity. What you may not know is that the “charity” to whom you are donating to. is simply a scammer, tricking you into giving them your money. If you are contacted by a charity and you wish to donate, ask them to mail you a pledge form instead of giving them your personal information over the internet or phone.

Job Scams

Many people are looking for jobs these days and some don’t think twice when they are offered one. What you need to be aware of is that there are scams out there where someone will claim to be a potential employer. The job position usually only requires you to do small jobs here or there but the employer will need your financial information to set up payment transactions. They will use this information to take money from you, rather than give it to you.

Contest Scams

Often people receive calls or e-mails claiming that we’ve won a terrific prize like a cruise vacation or luxury trip. The caller will claim that they need some financial information for them to give your prize. If you receive a call like this, think back and look for proof that you had entered that exact contest at some point. Also, never give out your financial information over the Internet or phone. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Preventative Measures

  • If you are the unfortunate victim of fraud, there can be severe consequences. Below are some preventative measures that you can take in hopes of protecting yourself against fraud.
  • Ask questions when someone claims that they need your personal information and never give it out unless you know exactly who you are dealing with. 
  • Shield your PIN whenever you are required to enter it. 
  • Cancel accounts immediately if any cards have been lost or stolen.
  • Monitor your billing cycle regularly to make sure no bills have been redirected.
  • Collect your mail as soon as possible and notify your local post office if you are going out of town. By doing this, they can hold it for you until you return.
  • Install security software on your computer and update it regularly.
  • Change your internet passwords often and make them difficult to guess. 
  • Shred receipts or any documents contacting account information
  • Access a credit report at least once a year to check for any unusual activity.  
  • Do not carry your social insurance card in your wallet

Helpful Links

The following websites have very good information on existing scams and how to protect yourself:

If you are a victim, report it to your local police agency, as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-485-8501).