PHISHING SCAMS

Phishing emails are designed to trick the victims into thinking they are dealing with someone they know such as financial institutions, utilities companies (Gas, hydro telephone) and even government institutions. Scammers use this practice to infect victim computers with malware and to capture personal and financial information. The information captured is often used for financial gain, to obtain goods or services or to fund other criminal activities. In 2013 the CAFC saw a 23% increase in phishing reports from 2012.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Beware of unsolicited emails claiming to be from Hydro-Québec asking you to verify your account information, and often presenting an urgent situation requiring immediate attention.
• Watch for spelling and formatting errors in the supposed website.
• Check the embedded hyperlink in the suspicious email; it is not usually the actual address of the company or organization.
• Be wary of clicking on any attachments, they can contain viruses and spyware.
• Go with your gut. If an email seems fishy it probably is.

OVERVIEW

• In January 2011, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) started receiving a small number of complaints from Canadians reporting that had been deceived by e-commerce websites selling counterfeit or questionable goods. Subsequent follow up with some of the intellectual property holders found that there are thousands of fraudulent businesses selling counterfeit merchandise on the web.
• Fraudsters are spoofing legitimate retailers websites such as Canada Goose, Ugg Boots, Lululemon, Arcteryx, Michael Kors, Coach and many more. Fraudsters have become proficient in producing web sites that have the same look and feel as the legitimate manufacturer.
• In 2013, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received 1,143 complaints on deceptive marketing of counterfeit goods. Of the 1,143 complaints, 1,401 are classified as victims having a total reported dollar loss of $352,826.11 (average loss of $251.84 per victim).

WARNING SIGNS - HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

• Consumers should do their due diligence and thoroughly research an online store or website prior to making a purchase.
• Confirm that you are dealing with the actual manufacturer and look for any warnings posted on their site.
• Use a credit card when shopping online, customers are offered protection and may receive a refund.
• Inspect the web site thoroughly. Often counterfeit sites will contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
• Online manufacturers generally use their own company email account. If a web based email like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo is listed on the web site under their contact details, this is a red flag and further research is recommended.

If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 0r http://www.antifraudcentre.ca