Manitoba's top 10 scam list

Learn to Recognize, Report and Stop Fraud

February 24, 2005 — Every year many Manitobans fall victim to scams and fraud. To help Manitobans protect themselves, February has been designated as Fraud Awareness Month; a month-long campaign aimed at educating Manitobans and all Canadians on how to avoid becoming a victim. As part of this campaign, the Competition Bureau, the Manitoba Finance, Consumers' Bureau, the Winnipeg Police Service, and the RCMP, D-Division are putting the word out to Manitobans about the Top 10 List of Scams targeting consumers throughout the province.

Scams artists are adding new spins to old scams in their search for new victims. No longer is only a certain faction of the population their targets. Their scams can, and do, target all Manitobans, consumers, businesses, the young and the elderly. They're attempting to defraud you of your money, your property, and even your identity. The best way to protect yourself and others is through awareness and knowledge - learn to recognize, report and stop fraud.

The Top 10 List of Scams Manitobans need to be aware of are:

Identity Theft
Internet Scams
Telemarketing Scams
Lottery Scams
Deceptive Sales Practices
Pyramid Schemes
Bogus Business Opportunities
Bogus Charities
Nigerian Letter Schemes
Office Supply Scams

On February 1, the Fraud Prevention Forum launched Fraud Awareness Month. More than 40 private and public sector organizations will be reaching out to Canadians in an effort to educate them on how to recognize, report and stop fraud. These organizations have committed to airing public service announcements, distributing over 30 million posters and bill inserts, buying newspaper ads and posting Web banners, all in the name of fraud education and prevention.

The Fraud Prevention Forum, chaired by the Competition Bureau, is a group of private sector firms, consumer and volunteer groups, government agencies and law enforcement organizations committed to fighting fraud aimed at consumers and businesses.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, report it by contacting PhoneBusters' National Call Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Canadians can also report fraud online through Reporting Economic Crime Online (RECOL) at www.recol.ca. RECOL is an RCMP initiative that involves an integrated partnership between international, federal and provincial law enforcement agencies and the private sector.

Manitobans looking for further information on how to become a scam-savvy consumer, visit the Manitoba Finance, Consumers' Bureau Web site at www.gov.mb.ca/finance/cca/consum b, or the Winnipeg Police Service Web site at www.winnipeg.ca/police.

To learn more about Fraud Awareness Month, visit the Competition Bureau's Web site at www.competitionbureau.gc.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Competition Bureau
Maureen McGrath
Sr. Communications Advisor
819-953-8982 / 613-296-2187 (cell)

Winnipeg Police Service
Cst. Robert Carver
Crime Prevention Unit
204-986-3481

Manitoba Finance, Consumers' Bureau
Nadine Delisle
Communications Coordinator
Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism
204-945-3810

RCMP, "D" Division
Cst. P.L. (Phil) Carver
Winnipeg Commercial Crimes Section
204-983-2000