There are plenty of people willing to take advantage of the holidays to get what they want.
Local police say an increase in travel, shopping, and celebrations over the busy holiday season means residents have to stay vigilant about recognizing, rejecting, and reporting seasonal swindles like counterfeit merchandise, fraudulent gift cards, fake Secret Santa exchanges, charity scams, fake online shopping links, shipping fraud, and door-to-door gift collection.
The OPP suggest protecting yourself by taking a moment to think before you act:
- Be careful of clicking on an unsolicited text or email.
- Research the charity to ensure you are donating to a legitimate cause.
- If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Stay away from public Wi-Fi when shopping.
- Be skeptical of product reviews and testimonials.
- Fraudsters will impersonate legitimate shipping companies; keep track of packages you are expecting.
Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information. Anyone who has been a victim of fraud is encouraged to report it to police at 1-888-310-1122.
(written by Kasey Egan)