March is Fraud Prevention Month across Canada, as the police and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) aim to protect citizens from online and over-the-phone scams.
Police across the country are ramping up anti-fraud initiatives this month to educate the public on how to stay safe from scams, with departments such as the London Police Service holding events including an informative seminar for more than 200 local seniors.
However, while seniors are often seen as targets for online scams, fraud is an issue affecting people of all ages.
19-year-old, Jethro Janzen said he was targeted by a scam in the last three months that cost him more than $1,000.
“When I realized that it was a scam, I would say I felt pretty dumb because I’m a young new adult, I’m paying for my own bills and stuff like that. And at the time I was saving for a car and it put me out $1,200. So it was pretty brutal,” Janzen said.
Janzen had fallen victim to a textbook case of relationship fraud, when an online scammer posed as a friend of his on Instagram.
“It even had like his Instagram profile picture of him and his fiancé and his bio was all of his other socials. It was just so detailed,” Janzen said about the account the fraudster had created.
According to the CAFC, Janzen was just one of over 900 people who fell victim to relationship fraud in the last year, combining for over $63.3 million in losses.
A post on measures to take during fraud prevention month from London police (Credit: X @lpsmediaoffice)
“If someone really needs help with money, they’ll come see you in person,” Janzen said about what he learned from the experience.
London police remind everyone this month to watch out for:
- Unsolicited calls, texts, emails or pop-ups with suspicious links
- Pressure to act immediately
- Requests for payment via gift cards, crypto, or wire transfer
