The Top 5 Online Resources for Fraud Prevention

With March being Fraud Prevention Month, it’s a good time to brush up on the various scams and fraud protection strategies out there right now. Below is a list of helpful resources to assist you in your quest to fraud-proof your life.

#1: PhoneBusters.com

If you’ve received a suspicious phone call or e-mail lately, chances are it’s on the PhoneBusters website.

The call centre, which was established in 1993 by the Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and Competition Bureau Canada, is dedicated to monitoring various types of fraud, as well as directing various fraud complaints to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The site’s detailed list of popular scams provides consumers with the information necessary to determine if a phone call or e-mail is fraudulent. The site also offers various statistics, helpful fraud prevention tips and a 1-800 number to call to report a scam not yet listed on the site.

#2: Your bank’s website

Regardless of where you have your money stored, most banks will notify their customers if there is fraud circulating with their branding on it. In the majority of cases, banks will never send you an e-mail, so if you receive something requesting personal information, you should think twice before providing it.

Not only does signing up for online banking allow you to keep up to date on the latest scams, but it also allows you to monitor your account from home. Checking your account on a regular basis will allow you to identify unusual activity quickly.

#3: Bank of Canada

In honour of Fraud Prevention Month, Canada’s Central Bank has dedicated a portion of its website to educating the public on how to identify various forms of fraud, including how to spot counterfeit money. The site offers a detailed breakdown of the various security features evident in today’s bills.

#4: ABCs of Fraud

Test your fraud knowledge by taking this site’s interactive quizzes. The quizzes cover every fraud-related topic, from debit card fraud to identity theft. Once completed, the site will walk you through your answers, reveal which ones were correct, and offer detailed explanations and statistics.

#5: Ontario Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services

This site offers detailed information directed towards consumers. Learn about everything consumer-related, from consumer legislation to identity theft protection. The site also outlines various phone scams in depth, and flags the latest consumer alerts.