Fraud-related offences are now thought to be as profitable as drug-related offences, estimated at between $10 and $30 billion annually in Canada by the RCMP’s Commercial Crime Branch. The majority of these crimes aren’t committed by kids at their computers, almost 80% are the work of criminal organizations.
Fraud should concern all Canadians because it de-stabilizes our national economy and strengthens organized crime groups. The impact on individuals, families and businesses is devastating: retirement savings, homes, businesses, and in some cases, lives, have been lost. While fraud losses are serious, the good news is that the majority can be prevented by identifying the methods used by fraudsters.
Fraud Prevention Month is an annual event that gives private and public organizations involved in the fight against fraud an opportunity to raise public awareness. “It’s important for everyone to be careful and to be alert to possible frauds. I hope people take what they learn during Fraud Prevention Month and apply it throughout the year,” said RCMP Superintendent Steve Foster, Director of the RCMP Commercial Crime Branch.
Over the next four weeks, the RCMP will be participating in a series of local and national fraud-awareness initiatives. To reduce your chances of being victimized by fraud, check the RCMP’s website daily during the month of March for tips aimed at keeping you safe from scammers. Topics covered will include identity theft, phishing, on-line shopping, social networking and credit and debit cared fraud.
For more information on scheduled activities, please visit the websites of these and other organizations taking part in Fraud Prevention Month:
• RCMP
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Competition Bureau of Canada
Chaired by the Competition Bureau, the Fraud Prevention Forum through its members, leads Fraud Prevention Month. A list of all Fraud Prevention Forum members is available on the Competition Bureau’s website.
