Prevention is key to protecting your money, your identity and your self-respect

Fraud by telephone, mail and Internet is a serious international problem. It steals your money, your identity and even your self-respect. You can protect yourself by learning to recognize the signs.

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Prevention Tips

rotect yourself by disposing of unwanted personal documents properly.

equest a call-back number when dealing with salespeople over the phone offering you a last-chance deal on office equipment. Take the time to think about the offer and call the company back at its headquarters.

xercise caution when participating in sweepstakes and other promotions. Legitimate sweepstakes offer participants a chance to win a prize or money with no purchase or entry fee required. If you have to pay to play, the promotion is a scam.

erify the authenticity of emails sent to you by your bank. Banks generally do not contact their clients by email to obtain information they already have on file.

ndorse cheques only from people you know and regularly conduct business with. If you cash a fake cheque, you will end up paying the bank out of your own pocket.

avigate your way around online vacation packages carefully. Packages that offer flights and five-star hotel getaways for bargain-basement prices should be considered with caution. There may be strings attached which end up costing you a lot more than you had originally planned.

ake a few moments to educate yourself about the dangers of fraud. The right information can help you avoid falling for scams.

gnore emails from exiled princes or long-lost relatives requesting money in return for a percentage of a trust fund. Just delete these.

rder goods from reputable online vendors. If you see advertisements for offers that are too good to be true, they probable are. Be on the lookout for anything that sounds unreasonable.

otify the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre at 1-888-495-8501 if you suspect that you have been contacted by a scam artist or have been defrauded.