PG RCMP warns residents of scams during tax season

It’s tax time and that often means reports of fraud increase for the Prince George RCMP this time of year.

Now a near-daily occurrence attempts to defraud people of their money are as diverse as the people who receive them according to the detachment.

“The message we want people to hear is: just don’t,” said Community Policing Coordinator, Linda Parker.

“Don’t engage with the anonymous caller; don’t follow the link in an email; don’t respond to the text message. Always contact the parent company yourself to verify the information is correct.”

The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre has these tips for people to protect themselves from fraudulent schemes:

• Don’t be intimidated by emotional pleas that play on your emotions
• Always verify that the organization you are dealing with is legitimate before taking action
• Do your research by verifying charities with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Verify any calls with your credit card company by calling the phone number on the back of your card
• Don’t give out personal information
• Protect your computer by having anti-virus software installed and up-to-date
• Be careful who you share images with
• Protect your online accounts by using strong passwords

If you are the victim of fraud, stay calm. Here are some important steps to follow:

• Gather all the information about the fraud, including documents, receipts and copies of emails or text messages
• Contact your financial institutions and report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money
• Place flags on your accounts and change all of your passwords
• Report the fraud to both credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion)
• Report the incident to your local police and get a file number for future reference
• Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through the Fraud reporting System