By Brody Langager

be aware

Survey shows large majority of Canadians have been targeted by fraudsters

Feb 22, 2021 | 2:30 PM

A new survey conducted by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) shows nearly three in four Canadians (73 per cent) have been targeted by fraudsters.

The survey also shows one in three respondents reported having fallen victim to some fraud at some point in their lives.

“Fraudsters are always looking for new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting Canadians, therefore, vigilance in protecting yourself is essential,” says Doretta Thompson, CPA Canada’s Financial Literacy Leader. “With our lives increasingly being lived online due to COVID-19’s new world, it’s more important than ever for Canadians to be diligent, on alert and safeguarding their private information.”

With March being Fraud Prevention Month, CPA Canada has some tips to prevent falling victim to fraud:

· Be careful with your online activity, and only provide personal information on secure websites, which can be checked by looking for the padlock icon on your browser.

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· Protect your passwords. Either memorize your passwords, or keep them in a secure location. Shredding documents that have personal information is also recommended.

· Do not respond to calls and texts from unrecognized numbers. Telemarketing fraud is one of the most common types, and 38% of Canadians reported answering calls from random numbers.

· Monitor your banking and credit card transactions. Check at least once a month. Setting up a text or email alert for your transactions can help catch fraudulent activity right away.

To learn more about fraud, or to report fraud, you can check out the Government of Canada website.