The Saskatoon Police are reminding citizens that knowledge is power when it comes to current fraud and scams. Protect yourself and be knowledgeable with current scams such as:
1. Being vigilant when receiving, either by telephone, mail, email, or text message that claims to from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requesting personal information about your social insurance number, credit card number, banking information, or passport number. The CRA, Government Agencies, RCMP, and Police Services in Canada will never demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as Amazon, iTunes, or others.
2. Extortion Emails - Fraudsters are requesting payment (through crypto-currency-Bitcoin) by certain dates/deadlines or else incriminating photos will be sent out to family and friends.
3. Homes for Rent Scam - Fraudsters post photos of homes for rent on Kijiji or Facebook, tricking potential renters in providing an upfront damage deposit, when the house is in actuality not for rent but vacant or for sale.
4. Employment Scams - Fraudsters posting employment on creditable job websites, then proceeding to hire the victims and sending them large amounts of start-up funds (checks) for office supplies. The fraudsters request that the checks be cashed, and send back a portion of those funds(usually through crypto-currency-Bitcoin) to them. In the meantime, the check is NSF and the victim is out a large sum of money.
Saskatoon Citizens are reminded to:
-Protect your social insurance number. Don't use it as a piece of ID.
-Pay attention your billing cycle and ask about missing account statements or suspicious transactions.
-Shred unwanted documents.
-Carry only the ID you need.
-Ask a trusted neighbour to pick up your mail when you are away/ Don't post online you are going away on holidays, etc.
Scams can be reported to the Saskatoon Police Service at www.saskatoonpoliceservice.ca or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can be contacted at 1-888-495-8501, or www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraud.gc.ca