Shoppers looking online for great deals this holiday season are strongly encouraged by Manitoba RCMP to be on the lookout for scams designed to empty their bank accounts and steal their personal information.

 

“Most Manitobans look forward to the holiday season, with many shopping online to find the perfect gift for loved ones. Unfortunately, there are criminals lurking online who are using increasingly sophisticated methods to take advantage of that good will and steal people’s money and personal information,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Cavanagh, of the Manitoba RCMP’s cyber and financial crime unit.

 

“We strongly encourage Manitobans to be educated about the dangers lurking online, so they can be vigilant in protecting themselves.”

 

Online scams can be basic and straightforward, such as phishing texts that claim package deliveries are delayed or that payment information needs to be verified. They can also be sophisticated, with ads placed on social media that direct people to fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers and travel agencies offering incredible deals. Even charities can be impersonated, with people encouraged to give money to charities that don’t actually exist.

 

There are things Manitobans should look out for to avoid being scammed. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommends you look carefully for spelling errors in texts or on websites, references to a product as “the item,” overseas buyers who are looking to buy without seeing the product first and sellers with recently created social media profiles. Shoppers should also be cautious about supposed “blowout” sales or greatly reduced prices posted online – the product you receive may be a counterfeit, if you receive it at all.

 

Further steps Manitobans can take include:

 

• Knowing the market value of the product they’re looking for;
• Locating and verifying the sellers’ contact information before purchasing;
• Looking for customer reviews and ratings from third-party sources;
• Using a payment method with fraud protection, such as credit cards;
• Providing the payment in person whenever possible;
• Reviewing all email information to ensure it’s coming from a legitimate source; and
• Not clicking on ads that sound too good to be true – use a trusted search engine instead to locate the seller and research if they are a vendor you should trust.

 

If you or someone you know has been defrauded, report it to the RCMP or your local police service. Your report can help identify links, catch criminals and prevent further frauds.

 

Please also report it to the National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System, which serves as a central repository of fraud and cybercrime reports from across the country. Reports can be filed here: Report Cybercrime and Fraud | National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System.