CAFC warns of popular frauds and scams ahead of the holiday season
Posted Dec 2, 2024 04:45:49 PM.
Last Updated Dec 2, 2024 04:45:54 PM.
As Waterloo Region begins to ramp into the holiday season, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says it’s one of the biggest times of the year for fraudsters.
As spending increases through December, more individuals and families are vulnerable to various popular scams. Many of the prevalent examples are centered around phones and emails, with most of the larger frauds hoping to get personal information.
There are many different tactics that the CAFC is hoping to inform residents of, including:
- Promotional fraud, impersonating legitimate companies and businesses
- Shipping fraud, asking to confirm payment and location details
- Investment fraud, promoting fraudulent crypto investments
- Donation fraud, posing as popular charities and organizations
- Prize and Vacation fraud, saying you’ve won a recent contest
- And more…
The CAFC says one of the most prevalent scams to watch out for through the holiday season is focused on online shopping and purchasing goods through digital marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace. It points out that many users online will create offers that are “too good to be true,” hoping to confirm payment details before distributing fraudulent products or sending nothing and halting further contact.
This also holds true for sellers, with many fraudsters wanting products to be shipped before they send over funds, often overcomplicating the sales process to confuse sellers to get products for free.
It says recognizing, rejecting, and reporting any possible scams is the best way to avoid fraud attempts and keep your holiday merry and bright.
The full list of details on popular holiday scams can be found on the CAFC website and anyone who thinks they’ve encountered or been targeted by a fraud attempt can access its online reporting system or call 1-888-495-8501.
