Fraud Prevention Forum

The Fraud Prevention Forum is a group of over 125 private sector firms, consumer and volunteer groups, government agencies and law enforcement organizations, committed to fighting fraud targeting consumers and businesses. Through its partners, the Forum, chaired by the Competition Bureau, works to prevent Canadians from becoming victims of fraud by educating them on how to "Recognize it. Report it. Stop it."

Since 2004, the Forum has been organizing Fraud Prevention Month, a month-long education campaign held in March to address the issue of fraud and promote confidence in the marketplace. The Forum's public education and awareness activities during Fraud Prevention Month can be found in the Calendar of events.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) recently revealed that fraud is a large and growing problem in Canada:

• It is estimated that approximately 1 million Canadians are victims of mass marketing fraud and identity theft in Canada annually, at a cost of $10 billion.
• Six in 10 Canadians had been targeted by fraud in 2010.
• Nearly 80 percent of mass marketing fraud—using the telephone, mail or Internet to reach a large pool of potential victims—is conducted by organized crime groups and is currently the second most common criminal activity funding terrorist activities.
• Despite the pervasiveness of the problem, 9 in 10 Canadians do not speak to anyone about fraud, and fewer than five percent of fraud victims contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to report the offence.

Membership in the Forum has grown considerably over the years. At the initial launch in 2004, there were 22 members. Today, there are more than 125 members. A list of partners is available for consultation. If becoming a partner in the fight against fraud is of interest to your organization, please contact the Competition Bureau or any of the partners listed for further information.

The Fraud Prevention Forum model has been adopted around the world. Twenty-nine countries, including the U.S., Australia, England, Chile and Japan, host Fraud Prevention Month activities.