Tag Archives: pond scum

Much to my chagrin, I realize that I was far too flippant, with regard to scammers and other such low lives. I treated a serious topic a little too lightly, yesterday, on Facebook.

I do forget that many people do not have my background when it comes to the internet and computers. I admit, I did have a great time laughing at the scammers but a friend brought something to my attention – she knew of someone who had fallen victim to these bastards, the end result being a fraud in the thousands.

What we need to do, as friends, neighbours, co-workers is to get the word out, particularly to older Canadians, new Canadians and friends who may not be as scam/fraud savvy as ourselves. Talk – open a conversation – discuss it – explain the types of scams and how to avoid them. Keep the dialogue going.

Here are some resources: https://www.canada.ca/…/security/protect-yourself-against-f…

While it isn’t income tax season; the scammers who called me yesterday used Revenu Canada as their masquerade:

https://globalnews.ca/…/rcmp-warn-of-canada-revenue-scam-a…/

https://globalnews.ca/…/canada-revenue-agency-email-scams-…/

http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/…/index-eng.…

It isn’t just the individual at risk; while working, I ran up against a number of scams. There was the toner scam – where a fraudster would obtain the type of printer used in the office – a seemingly innocuous question and then obtain the name of an employee, an invoice would then be sent, using the employee’s name as the reference for the order. Luckily, our company had a strict purchasing policy and as I was the purchaser for most of the supplies/equipment used in our locations, I knew that the toner was not ordered and the fraud uncovered immediately. Some companies do have a more laissez-faire attitude toward office/warehouse supplies and this is where the fraudsters win and they win big.

The other fraud that I ran up against targeted the highly competitive sales market; there is an offer for a “directory” of sales leads. This comes in the form of a CD, an almost entirely useless compilation of businesses that is easily, and FREELY available online. This company managed to fool an employee and the CD arrived. It was sent back immediately but that didn’t stop harassing phone calls for payment, that went on for months.

There is little that law enforcement can do; these scammers are insulated and sometimes, as is the case with the Revenue Canada crooks; they are not even based in the country. A Canadian area code is not an indicator of the location of the call. For example: the call I received yesterday was from area code 705 and the full number was 705-530-9783. According to my little investigation, this is a landline phone number operated by Fibernetics Corporation and is located in the city of Alliston, Ontario. This means nothing however – the number and area code have been hijacked either unknowingly by Fibernetics or with their complicity. I don’t know. I reported it to Fibernetics; it remains to be seen if anything is done. There is big money in defrauding the unsuspecting and if Fibernetics is simply being duped? There are other telecommunication companies more than willing to take over.

So how do we fight back? By being vigilant. By checking and then double-checking and then triple checking credentials. By discussing the issue, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, in coffee shops, at the bus stop, in doctor or hospital waiting rooms; by bringing up the conversation at family events, community events – sharing with friends, with friends of friends.

Banks should be asked to post fraud information as our elderly and the newer Canadians may not be online savvy.

There needs to be more attention focused on these crimes – while I found the attempt by “Officer Greg Williams” hysterically funny; it is only because of knowledge spread online. It was through notification and an understanding of how government works, as well as how fraudsters work. I am fortunate – thousands upon thousands of Canadians are not.

Open up the discussion – get the information out there and drain the scammers pool of unsuspecting victims!!!

Be aware, be vigilant, share what you know, the scammer landscape is ever changing as they look for more ways to steal your money.

http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/fraud-escroquerie/index-eng.htm