March is Fraud Prevention Month and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has released the Top 10 Scams of 2017. Check out the most popular scams of last year and ways you can protect yourself in 2018.
According to the BBBâs announcement of the Top 10 Scams of 2017, scammers took over $95 million from Canadians through a variety of methods. The top scam was online purchase scams, with more than $13 million reported lost.
Here are three of the 10 top scams of 2017 (in no particular order) and some tips to avoid them:
- Online purchase scams
Tip: shop on reputable websites.
- Cryptocurrency scamsÂ
Tip: some offerings may not comply with securities laws.
- Income tax scamsÂ
Tip: The CRA will not solicit personal information over the phone or by email.
To find out more about all 10 scams, visit the BBBâs Top 10 Scams in detail.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, it is estimated that less than 5% of the total number of fraud victims report their experiences to law enforcement agencies. By reporting a fraud, you provide law enforcement with the information they need to stop fraudsters and help prevent others from becoming victims. The information you provide is important! To report a fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we canât help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
ADDITIONAL READING
The Top 10 Scams of 2016 presented by BBB
The top 10 scams of 2015 presented by BBB
Which scams topped the charts in 2014?
These people calling,saying they represent the CRA are difficult to catch!and they are annoying!really bothers me that they can prey on the elderly!I try to keep them on the lune for awhile and then I ask what their mother would think of them being scammers!but I would like to reach through the phone line and throttle the sobđ