How to Spot a Scam

As technology innovation increases, so do the risks of becoming a victim of fraud. Identity thieves and hackers are always looking for new opportunities and target everyone. All a fraudster requires is access to a few pieces of information for an individual to become a victim of financial loss or have their identity stolen.

It's not always easy to determine what is a scam or fraud – recognizing the signs and taking proper precautions when volunteering your personal or financial information is key to being safe. You can familiarize yourself with a variety of common scams by reviewing the Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams, or click on the bullet points below to learn more about each scam and how to avoid it.

• Card Fraud
• Cheque Fraud
• Counterfeit Fraud
• Emergency or Grandparent Scam
• Identity Theft
• INTERAC e-Transfer® Fraud
• Investment Fraud
• Lottery Scam
• Microsoft Support or Vishing Scam
• Money Transfer Fraud
• One Ring Scam
• Online Gaming Fraud
• Online Shopping Scams
• Overpayment Scam
• Piggy Back Scams
• Phishing and Pharming Email Scams
• Port-Out Fraud
• Romance Scam
• SMShing Scam
• Spyware and Scareware Scams

For more on cybersecurity best practices, the Canadian Credit Union Association has compiled a series of videos available here.