On August 16, 2014, Headingley RCMP were alerted by a local resident that a familiar scam was making its rounds in the community. An official-looking letter from a purported accountant in Ontario states that a business magnate has died leaving an unclaimed life insurance policy. The letter wants the recipient to stand as the beneficiary of the estate because of the same surname. This is a scam.
Copy of letter scam provided by Headingley RCMP.
The RCMP warn the public to never offer personal and/or financial information to unknown contacts. Fraud targets Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life. The best way to prevent becoming a victim of fraud is to learn how to recognize it. You can visit the RCMP website for scams and frauds or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
Here are some tips to help protect yourself against fraud:
- If it is too good to be true, it probably is
- Trustworthy businesses and institutions will rarely contact you by email, phone or text message to ask for personal details, including financial information
- Research it. Do a quick Internet search on the company to see if you can verify any of the information provided
- Read the fine print and know what you are agreeing to
If you are a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to make a report.
