March is Fraud Prevention Month, a good time to brush up on everything you need to know to prevent becoming victim to an online, phone, or even in-person scam. We discussed a few scams that our own team encountered back in 2023, and the list has grown since. Recently, for example, I received an automated call what appeared to be my actual bank indicating that a fraudulent purchase was attempted on my card and to call a certain number to rectify it. Instead, I hung up, called my credit card company number directly, and confirmed that there was no such purchase attempt, nor did they make that call.
How can you keep on top of fraud and scams when even the most tech-savvy, aware people have fallen victim to them? Some of the latest ones, as noted in the aforementioned article, include Instagram Help scams, sponsored posts, and job scams. It requires a lot of diligence.
Along with all the tips we have provided over the years in articles like our one about scamming e-mails, phone calls, and texts, and travel and leisure scams, here are a few more things to note in order to keep yourself safe.
Image created by Microsoft Copilot
Call, E-mail and Text Impersonations Are Getting Savvier
Many companies have reached out via e-mail to advise their customers that there are known scammers impersonating them through text and e-mail message scams. One such company is 407 ETR, for example, which confirmed that fraudulent texts and even websites are impersonating the toll highway and scamming people out of money. I have indeed received texts suggesting that I have a toll violation and need to click a link to rectify it. 407 ETR says that it received nearly 12,000 customer reports of such messages in 2024, and the team shut down 470 fraudulent domains purporting to be the actual 407 website. This is just one example, but there are many companies dealing with the same issues, from services like Netflix to banks.
What to do? Your best course of action whenever you get a call, e-mail, or text like this is to hang up the phone or ignore the text message or e-mail. Contact the company directly from the known number to confirm if there’s an issue. If there isn’t, which is likely the case, you can report the e-mail sender or number to your provider or carrier if desired. Never click links from a business in an e-mail or text message, even if they appear to be legitimate.
Check Accounts Regularly
Several months ago, I was enjoying Sunday morning breakfast when I started to get text messages to verify changes to my PayPal account. I had done no such thing so immediately logged in from my computer to see that someone had managed to hack into my account and transfer a small amount of money to another currency. I quickly changed my passwords and got on the phone with them to rectify things.
What to do? For financial sites, set up two-factor authentication. While even that might not save you from fraud, as I experienced here, you’ll at least be alerted immediately before anything worse can be done. It’s a good idea to sign up for online banking so you can log into your accounts periodically to scan through purchases versus waiting for a monthly statement. If the bank offers it, which most do, sign up for fraud notifications. Never share your password with anyone nor save it somewhere that’s easily accessible. Change the password every three months and never log in from public Wi-Fi.
Be Mindful of AI
AI plays a role in scams nowadays, making it even more challenging for even the most aware person to avoid becoming a victim. Scammers can impersonate your friends and family members using AI, not only mimicking their voice but even their faces through videos found on social media. They might make it look like someone is in trouble or in need of money.
What to do? The easiest way around this is an old trick that parents often use with their young kids: a safe word. Ask the person to indicate the secret word that confirms their identity. If they can’t, you know it isn’t really the person you think it is. Make it more complex as a complete phrase or series of words and never share these with anyone nor write them down.
Be Wary of Gift Cards
Gift cards are a popular purchase, especially around holidays and special occasions. But it’s important to protect yourself against a growing number of gift card scams. If someone advises you to pay for something in gift cards, this is a clear red flag that it’s a scam. Gift cards are favoured because they are difficult to track. When you share the number and PIN, they will be able to access the funds to make an online purchase and you’ll never know who cashed it in since they are not traceable.
What to do? When you purchase a gift card from a store, try to grab one from near the back of the rack versus the front. Ensure that it’s loaded by the cashier for the desired amount and/or activated with the amount that is noted on the card. Keep the receipt and attach it to the gift card for the recipient in case there are any issues. Meanwhile, if you’re asked to pay for items, never pay with gift cards.
Buy and Sell Group Payments
Local buy and sell groups are popular nowadays, especially among parents. They’re a great way to make extra cash from baby and kids’ clothing or other items as well as furniture, electronics, and more, and give them a second life. These social groups on sites like Facebook, however, are manned by volunteers and operate on a “buyer beware” premise. Thus, it’s not surprising that people have been scammed with payments never being sent, sent then cancelled after the product has been picked up, or product never being delivered at all.
What to do? Always arrange drop off and pick up in a public area. Never accept electronic payments, including e-transfers, which can be cancelled if you don’t have auto-deposit. Instead, insist on cash payments. Advise that you’re willing to wait to give them time to go to the bank if they don’t have cash. If they aren’t willing to pay by cash, find another buyer. For buyers, never pay for an item before receiving it and always inspect the item, especially electronics, before agreeing to the purchase.
Keep Yourself Protected
In a recent survey, Mastercard reveals that only 36% of Canadians feel they have adopted basic security practices to protect their personal information, and close to 60% say it is exhausting to update their passwords, with only half changing them every two years. But it’s an important first step in protecting yourself. However, it’s not the only one. Fraudsters are getting smarter and smarter. It’s tougher to discern what’s real and what’s not. If you believe you can outsmart just about any fraud tactic, think again. It’s easy to fall victim by neglecting to realize just how savvy fraudsters can be.
These tips are especially important for the younger generation of Gen-Zers, not just the elderly. Check Point advises that Gen Z is exposed to greater risk because they are the most connected generation.
The other day, I received a text message that read “Hi mom, this is my new number. Can you send me a text on WhatsApp please.” My son is 13 and while he does have a cell phone, he would not be able to get a new number without his father or I arranging this for him. However, I couldn’t help but think that if this was an older person with a grown child getting the message, would they recognize it was a scam? Would they believe it, set that number up on WhatsApp, and inevitably end up being scammed in some way? It’s likely.
By having your guard up and never falling for the frantic e-mail, text message, or phone call that suggests immediate action is necessary, you can protect yourself from being scammed. Likewise, as businesses keep on top of common scams and alert their customers, everyone can be on the same page.
-30-
More articles on Fraud prevention
