Police are cracking down on so-called gift card scams and trying to raise more awareness.
The OPP are teaming up with the Retail Council of Canada and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in a special campaign for Fraud Prevention Month.
OPP Western Region Acting Sergeant Ed Sanchuk says scammers are becoming more creative, which means residents need to keep their guard up.
“There are some indicators, such as receiving a call from someone stating they are a police officer or government agency representative asking a person to go buy gift cards to pay to get their loved one out of jail,” Sanchuk says. “This will not happen. No law enforcement agency, court, or government organization will ask for this.”
Statistics from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre show 2021 was a historic year for reported frauds, with losses totaling $379-million.
Of that $379-million, Ontario residents represented $142 million in losses reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in 2021. It is estimated that only 5% of victims report their frauds to law enforcement or the CAFC.
Rui Rodrigues with the Retail Council of Canada says especially when it comes to gift card scams, sharing information and danger signs to watch for is key.
“Print out the rack cards, put them up on any gift card racks at POS (point of sale) stands, at retail stores, at the cash, so their employees can be educated and anyone purchasing them can think twice before they buy them,” Rodrigues explains. “Getting the (message) out through social media, through re-sharing and posting, is where we think the biggest impact is.”
Authorities are asking members of the public to continue the conversation online by using the hashtags #FPM2022, #kNOwFraud, #Take5, #Tell2, #SeriousFraudOfficeON and tagging @canantifraud on social media.
The CAFC collects information on fraud and identity theft Canada wide. Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or online through the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if there was no financial loss.
For more fraud facts and figures and a downloadable booklet (PDF), visit The Competition Bureau of Canada website at https://www.competitionbur eau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/home or by visiting http://www.opp.ca and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre