The Manitoba RCMP will be taking to social media throughout the month of March to mark Fraud Prevention Month. Fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes not just in Manitoba, but in Canada.
In 2023, Canadians lost $567 million dollars; in Manitoba that number was over $9 million dollars.
There are a number of different ways fraudsters work to obtain the information they are seeking from victims, which can result in a financial loss. Communication through various mediums like WhatsApp, and Facebook, or unsolicited emails or text messages are the biggest culprits. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), people should be as vigilant as ever. AI is opening the door to more elaborate deep fakes used in conjunction with scams and also allowing fraudsters to scale their operations to levels far beyond what they handle in the past.
Investment fraud is on the rise, and one of the top scams where victims tend to lose money, especially in Manitoba. The promise of big returns on websites that look authentic entice people to invest large amounts of money or cryptocurrency. The scams are well-polished and may involve relationship-building for months to gain a victim's trust.
"Phone calls, text messages, emails from people or organizations you don't know should be your number one warning," said Cpl. Terry Sundell of Manitoba RCMP Financial Crimes Unit. "If you didn't initiate the contact, there is a very good chance it's a scam."
It is estimated that only 5-10% of fraud cases are actually reported. If you are a victim of fraud, or come across a scam, it is important to report it to your local police agency, the RCMP or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Education is the biggest tool in combatting fraud. Please visit The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website at www.antifraudcentre.ca or call 1-888-495-8501 for more information on how to protect yourself, and what to do if you've been a victim.