We’re wrapping up Fraud Prevention Month today, leaving you with information about one last fraud: the Hit Man Scam. In this blog post, learn the signs of this scam and what to do if one of these emails arrives in your inbox.
What is the Hit Man Scam?
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the Hit Man Scam is when a consumer receives an email that’s supposedly from a hit man, hired to “assassinate” the recipient. In exchange for not carrying out the hit, the scammer demands a large sum of money and/or your personal information. The scammer may warn you not to call the police or inform anyone else about the threat.
What should I do if I receive a Hit Man Scam email?
First, don’t panic and don’t respond to the email. If there’s nothing in the email that makes you believe the threat is unique to you (such as containing personally-identifying information), then just delete it. If you feel the threat is real, or if you are at all concerned about your safety, contact the police. If you provided credit card or banking information to the scammer, contact your credit card provider or banking institution immediately.
Remember: you can report scams like the Hit Man Scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
March is Fraud Prevention Month. While scams and fraud fall outside of the laws that Consumer Protection BC is responsible for, we are sharing the information in this blog post to raise consumer awareness in support of this national initiative. For more information about Fraud Prevention Month, please visit the Competition Bureau’s website.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Free trial traps: how to identify them and what to do if you’re stuck
Is it a scam? Three ways to tell
Tips to prevent identity theft
A scam warning from Canada Revenue Agency