Fraud Prevention Month Kicks into High Gear in Sudbury
Because of continued fraud scams taking place in the Greater Sudbury area, the city police force is warning residents and businesses to be extra vigilant, while also detailing some of the scams that are currently rife in the city.
Scams have been a real problem this winter and seem to be orchestrated by well-organized fraudsters who prey on vulnerable tax payers and enterprises. The Greater Sudbury Police says it has seen a spike in fraud throughout Ontario over the last year, with normal ploys targeting people who lack understanding about their rights.
Many scams pretend to be the Canadian Revenue Agency, with scammers typically requesting payments of supposedly owed taxes, which are false. The CRA says citizens can contact its Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-8501 to see if a call was legitimate of fake, while also to report and suspicious activity.
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police launched a crimes prevention booklet last month, aiming to detail which fraud cases are most common throughout the province, and residents of Sudbury can see that booklet at www.oacp.on.ca/news-events/resource-documents/public-resource-docs.
Fraud is estimated to cost Canadians more than $10 billion per year, according to law enforcement, with 51,385 fraud cases reported through the Anti-Fraud Centre between January and November last year.
The Greater Sudbury Police is doing its part by initiating the Notification of Community Crime program, which will raise awareness about fraud and other types of financial crime. March is Fraud Prevention Month in the city, so the police will be continuing with their efforts to inform the public.
In support of this initiative, Greater Sudbury Police Service conducted the Notification of Community Crime program throughout the month of February, informing residents about financial crime and fraud. Members of the local police service will continue this initiative throughout the month of March, as this is Fraud Prevention Month.
