Launch of the 17th edition of Fraud Prevention Month

Launch of the 17th edition of Fraud Prevention Month

The Sûreté du Québec and its partners have launched the 17th edition of Fraud Prevention Month, under the theme “Smell the scam”. Quebec ranks second in Canada in the number of frauds, after Ontario. In 2020, fraud accounted for $ 17.1 million in monetary losses and claimed more than 17,000 victims. Fraudulent schemes are constantly evolving according to the SQ.

“Many scams are related to the context of the pandemic. More than ever, the population must be on the lookout to prevent fraud. », Specifies the SQ.

The public will also be invited to a webinar on March 24, organized with the Bank of Canada. The different types of current fraud will be discussed. More information will also be posted on social media in the coming days.

Avoid the traps of fraudsters
“Although many specialized teams work daily to combat the various types of fraud, vigilance remains the best way to counter fraudsters. Citizens must be skeptical about too attractive offers, validate the information and question the lure of too easy a profit. These simple actions can save them a lot of trouble. Fraudsters generally rely on ignorance, the vulnerability of the victims, a sense of urgency, authority or speed to achieve their ends, ”says the SQ.

The Sûreté du Québec and its partners invite the public to report any fraudulent act to their local police department.

Remember that fraud is a criminal act. Whether committed over the Internet, over the phone or in person, it should be reported as soon as possible to the police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-8501. For more information, the public is invited to consult the website as well as the Twitter feed and the Facebook page of the Sûreté du Québec and its partners.