Greetings from your RDNO Safe Communities Coordinator

Good afternoon Block Watch members,
Better Business Bureau (BBB) who serve the province, announces the Top Ten Scams, Frauds and Things to Watch for in 2016.
The following list includes their most reported scams and suspicious activities of 2015.
BBB ANNOUNCES THE TOP 10 SCAMS, FRAUDS AND THINGS TO WATCH FOR IN 2016
1.                 Canadian Revenue Agency - aggressive telemarketers pretending to represent CRA used aggressive and threatening tactics to scare taxpayers into paying a fictitious tax return.
2.                 Unclaimed prize scams – automated phone call, email or letters claiming to be from an airline, foreign lotteries, hotels or booking agents saying you’ve won a prize, vacation or lottery cash.
3.                 Computer Virus Fix – by fraudsters phoning saying they represent Apple / Microsoft, informing you that your computer is infected by a virus and demanding money to fix it.
4.                 Phishing Scam – computer emails using official looking logos for businesses and banks encouraging users to click on links to steal personal / private information or download a virus to users computer.
5.                 Vacation rental scam – tourists renting homes / condos from private homeowners / renters find themselves out of luck and out of money when vacation rentals were fake.
6.                 Fraudulent Kiosk vendors – reports of dissatisfaction with products and services provided by transient kiosk vendors, often found in Malls, markets, festivals and fairs.
7.                 SMS Phishing – Bogus SMS mobile devices text messages are sent to victims in an attempt to lure them into unknowingly accepting large monthly charges or to download a virus to their device.
8.                 Online Strangers – public using second hand shopping and social media sites have found themselves being ripped off financially or have given out private information to strangers.
9.                 Helpful Harry / Helen – Homeowners / renters have found themselves out of pocket after hiring neighbors, local teenagers or “in the area” contractors to assist with home, yard and vehicle maintenance.
10.            Counterfeit Merchandise – Internet is filled with online stores and auction sites marketing alluring, cheaply priced, counterfeit products being pitched as the real thing.
 
Never rush into any financial agreements or wire / send cash without first taking advice from someone you trust,
Remember, if you feel you have been a victim of a scam, please report it !!!
Be careful and take care,
Kind regards
 
Roy Morgan
 
Safe Communities Coordinator
Protective Services - Regional District of North Okanagan.
Cell    250.938.2260
Office 250.550.3733   [email protected]
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