Online and mass marketing frauds are an ever increasing problem and people need to be aware of these types of scams. If, for example, you receive notification of a 'lottery win' for a contest you have never heard of, and you are a sent a cheque to cover the cost of your 'collection fee', do not wire transfer funds to some person to get the money. It is a scam.

If you are sent an overpayment for something you advertised for sale or perhaps you are renting a property and the person 'accidentally' sends you too much money via cheque or money order but trusts you to keep just enough for your trouble and wire transfer the remainder back to them. Don't do it. It is a scam.

Be wary of loan brokers who require a fee up front. It is illegal for a loan broker to collect a fee. Many people simply do not know this and pay the advance fee and never get the promised loan. It is a scam.

Counterfeit Currency

Throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality counterfeit bills get passed everyday. The key to prevention is to be familiar with genuine currency features and check your money every time you do a cash transaction.

Please choose a reporting period from the list below or enter a serial number of a bill to perform a check.

Scams

The links below take you to Websites that have very good information on almost every scam out there.

• http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/scamAboutUs/

• www.fakechecks.org

• http://www.phonebusters.com/english/index.html

• The Canadian Marketing Association website - help with identification of fraudulent offers

http://www.the-cma.org/public.asp?WCE=C=47|K=224225

• The Ontario Ministry of Government Services - Consumer Protection Branch

http://www.mgs.gov.on.ca/

• In the United States - The Internet Crime complaint Center (IC3)

http://www.ic3.gov

Senior Scams

If you receive an urgent call from someone claiming to be your grandchild or perhaps a lawyer claiming to represent them and they are in dire need of money because they claim to be in trouble, in jail, stranded or injured - be wary! This is probably a scam. The con artist is trying to create fear and doubt in your mind for the safety and well-being of your family member and you will be pressured to send money by wire to some person or place to get them out of the ‘trouble’ they say they are in.

Typically they will also urge you not to tell anyone else as well. These scams also come in the form of e-mails.

Before you act – get independent verification on the whereabouts and well-being of that family member and do not hesitate to call your local Police for assistance in verification on the situation the caller is claiming.

Credit Card Scams

The Halifax Regional Police/RCMP Integrated Financial Crime Section reminds merchants to be diligent when processing Card Not Present ( CNP ) credit card transactions. Police are investigating a number of recent incidents where criminals have purchased merchandise over the phone using stolen credit card information. It is important that merchants/or delivery drivers ensure the credit card any order is placed against, is produced at the point of delivery. In cases of Card Not Present ( CNP ) transactions, it is strongly suggested the seller contact the credit card company to ensure legitimacy. Be wary of phone calls from individuals claiming to be the cardholder who assure you it is alright to leave the product behind with a third party.

Additionally, particularly in cases where merchandise is being delivered, it is suggested that the person who is to receive the product be asked to show photo identification. Have staff record the information. If the recipient is unwilling or unable to comply with the photo identification request, the merchant or delivery driver should reconsider the sale or delivery until such time as the cardholder is contacted and the order confirmed. Also, ensure the name on the credit card matches the recipient and do a signature comparison on the credit card and invoice.

Retailers who fail to have purchasers produce their card are running the risk of losing their product without compensation, should the transaction turn out to be fraudulent.

Be diligent in your business practices and ensure your staff are adequately trained in policy and procedure for processing Card Not Present ( CNP ) credit card transactions. Similar practices should apply to orders paid for by cheque.

Identity Theft Prevention

Protection of Private Information

1.   Buy a quality paper shredder or destroy unwanted documents, unsolicited mail or credit card applications that contain personal information.

2.   The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

3.   Sign the back of your credit cards and consider putting "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" in permanent ink below the signature strip as well.

4.   When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

5.   Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P.O. Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a P.O. Box, use your work address. Never have your SIN# printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

6.   Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

Also carry a photocopy of your passport when travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, SIN, credit cards.

7.   We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know who to call. Keep those where you can find them.

8.  File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc. were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation

But here's what is perhaps most important of all:

9.   Call the two national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Insurance number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

10.  It is helpful to know where to report Economic Crime - many people simply do not know:

• Contact Phonebusters toll free at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.phonebusters.com
• See also - Report Economic Crime online at www.recol.ca
• Halifax Regional Police Integrated Financial Crime Section - 902-490-1985

Here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc. has been stolen:

• Equifax Canada: 1-800-465-7166
• TransUnion: 1-800-663-9980