‘Tis the season for crime.
As they tend to at this time of year, Mounties in Alberta are warning would-be deal hunters to be wary of a variety of scams common to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, the kickoff of the year’s holiday shopping season.
The RCMP pointed out in a news release that many crimes related to credit card data aren’t noticed until the next billing cycle.
Alberta RCMP data from 2023 reveal 17 per cent of reports of fraud, either under or over $5,000, were received by the force in November and December. They add that “most” of the 51 reports of unauthorized use of credit card data were received in November, December and January.
There were also 51 reports of mischief involving data, including trojan horses and viruses in 2023, eight in November and three in December. Nationally, in 2023, more than 42,000 victims reported losing more than half a billion dollars to fraudsters. Data for 2024 show they're on a similar pace, having crested the same total with weeks left in the calendar year.
Here are some tips from the RCMP to keep your data safe as you go online for that next gotta-have gift:
- Only buy from reputable sources. Don't let a steal of a deal lead to someone stealing your credit card info;
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi, especially when making transactions or accessing banking or other sensitive personal information;
- Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible, making it more difficult for criminals to access your accounts;
- Change your passwords often. Using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters helps make them stronger;
- Phishing is a commonly used tactic for cyber crime. Phishing messages ask you to validate information by clicking links and may threaten you with legal action. Verify legitimacy by calling the company directly; and
- Check your accounts frequently and review transactions often to ensure your information hasn't been compromised.
Report suspected fraud to local law enforcement and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501, and to your credit card provider and bank.
To learn more about the various types of frauds and scams, please visit the CAFC's scam webpage.
