Partners Against Fraud
TIPS of the Month* to help you avoid on-line scams:
- Never provide details about your bank accounts or credit cards by e-mail, over the phone or by fax, before doing background checks.
- Always seek independent advice if an offer involves time pressure, providing personal information, or sending money, particularly if it is for a job or an investment opportunity. If the offer is legitimate, they can wait a day or two for a response.
- If you receive a cheque and are asked to return an "overpayment" portion using a money transfer company... Beware!
*provided by the Competition Bureau. For more tips, contact the Competition Bureau at www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/fraud or call 1-800-348-5358 or one of the other Partners listed below
Catching the criminals who commit fraud is critical. That's why Partners Against Fraud offers tips to help you recognize it, report it and STOP it. To report a scam, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.
What is Partners Against Fraud?
Partners Against Fraud (The Partners) exists as a network of representatives from participating organizations who:
- Share an interest in raising public awareness about fraud and how to avoid being victimized by fraud;
- Work together to promote public awareness at key public events and during Fraud Prevention Month (March);
- Promote a common message to 'Recognize It. Report It. Stop It'
The Partners:
- Share information about fraud and ideas on how to raise public awareness;
- Increase public awareness as to the tactics used by deceptive and fraudulent operators in the market place;
- Empower the public to say "no" to potential scams;
- Encourage the public to report all incidences of suspicious and potentially fraudulent activity to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or call 1-888-495-8501;
- Ultimately, help to decrease the number of victims of fraud in Nova Scotia.
Who are the Partners?
Bank of Canada (Currency)
The Bank of Canada is the country's sole bank note-issuing authority and is responsible for designing, producing, and distributing Canada's bank notes.
Canada's paper money contains security features that are easy to use to make sure that the money you accept is real and not counterfeit. Checking these features keeps fake bills out of retailers' tills, customers' change and Canada's cash supply. There is no refund for fake money. Learn how to check your bills by visiting the Bank's website.
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Better Business Bureau of the Maritime Provinces (BBB)
The BBB is a non-profit organization that has been serving Maritime consumers and business since 1949. We provide pre-purchase inquiry information on companies, complaint services, dispute resolution services and information on scams.
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Canada Post
Canada Post has been a trusted carrier of Canadians' mail for over 150 years. Protecting our customers' mail and personal information is our highest priority. As a responsible corporate citizen, Canada Post can play a significant role in informing our customers, employees, and the general public about how to minimize vulnerability to fraud of all kinds, and in doing so, support our collective ability to recognize, report and stop it.
The Security and Investigations' group is Canada Post's principal security advisor to both employees and customers in protecting the mail, information, personnel and assets of Canada Post. Postal Inspectors help to protect the value of the Canada Post brand to customers by advising product and process owners on security requirements, investigating reported incidents of mail theft, damage to Canada Post property, fraud, threats to employees, corporate policy violations, mail related criminal offences, information and identity theft among other concerns.
Website: www.canadapost.ca
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Competition Bureau
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency. We contribute to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice. The Competition Bureau investigates offences under the Competition Act, including Deceptive Marketing, Bid Rigging, Price Fixing, Mass Advertising & Labeling complaints.
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Nova Scotia Securities Commission
The Nova Scotia Securities Commission regulates the province's capital markets and the advisers who sell and manage securities (investments) traded in those markets. We work to protect investors from unfair, improper actions and investment fraud. The Commission is a source of information and education on safe investing and fraud prevention.
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Nova Scotia Department of Seniors
The Nova Scotia Department of Seniors serves as a single entry point to government for seniors and their families. To further this work, the Department frequently partners and consults with other government departments, seniors, and seniors' organizations and groups to coordinate the planning and development of policies, programs, and services for seniors.
The Department supports community-based senior safety work throughout the province. The Senior Safety Grant, launched in October 2008, is an initiative of the Departments of Seniors and Justice that helps deliver education and awareness about crime prevention, senior abuse, safety and health issues, and helps connect seniors with police. We also develop resources and deliver senior abuse and awareness information directly to seniors and their families.
| Website: | www.novascotia.ca/seniors | |
| Senior Abuse Information and Referral line: | 1-877-833-3377 | |
| Seniors' General Info Line toll-free: | 1-800-670-0065 | |
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Retail Council of Canada
The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has been the Voice of Retail in Canada since 1963. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 40,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants.
We offer a wide range of resources to retailer members to assist with implementation of loss and fraud prevention programs. For consumers, RCC is one of the founders of Canada's voluntary Scanner Accuracy program. The Scanner Accuracy Code of Practice can be found here: www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/vwapj/ct02381e.pdf/$FILE/ct02381e.pdf.
| Website: | www.retailcouncil.org | |
| For scanner accuracy questions: | 1-866-499-4599 | |
| General Information line: | 902-406-4350 | |
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Rotary ABCs of Fraud Program
The ABCs of Fraud Program is operated by the Rotary Club of Halifax and sponsored by SCOTIABANK. The Program is a volunteer organization that provides free presentations to any interested community group such as seniors, church groups and community groups and associations. By the use of briefings, discussions, skits and handouts, we expose the audience to the potential of frauds and scams found in any community; we tell them about some of the frauds and scams currently found in our community; and we provide data on how to report frauds and scams to the police and other agencies.
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), H Division, Commercial Crime Section
The RCMP Commercial Crime Program, in partnership with the public and private sectors, is committed to educating the public on ways to protect themselves from economic crimes. Commercial Crime investigators are responsible for the gathering of evidence, interviewing of witnesses and suspects, compiling court briefs and reports, recommending necessary courses of action, and assisting with the presentation of evidence and the prosecution of white-collar crime offenders before the courts. This includes investigations related to fraudulent telemarketing and identity theft/fraud, securities, counterfeit currency, and the enforcement of specific mandated Federal and Provincial Statutes, both at the local and international level.
Website: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ccb-sddc/index-eng.htm
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Federal Enforcement Section
The RCMP Federal Enforcement Section's mandate encompasses numerous federal statutes and regulations, including up to 118 federal statutes and 18 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with various government departments. The Federal Enforcement Section in Nova Scotia focuses primarily on Intellectual Property Crime, Financial Loss to the Government, Environment Crime and Wildlife, and Public Safety.
Contact: 902-869-2312 or 902-869-2313.
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Service Nova Scotia Municipal Relations, Consumer and Business Programs
The Consumer and Business Programs unit at Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (SNSMR) is responsible for certain Acts that deal with consumer protection. These include cemetery and funeral services, mortgage brokers, collection agencies, payday lenders, and other lenders that are not federally regulated banks or credit unions. If you are dealing with any of these industries and are concerned or have questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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Additional Resources:
The Canadian Consumer Handbook offers information on a wide range of topics such as online shopping, contracts, housing and home renovations, identity theft, collection agencies, and much more, to help consumers build their buying skills. It even helps them with how to make an effective complaint.
The Handbook is interactive and allows users to create a customized version (My Handbook) by selecting topics of interest to them and by customizing contact information by jurisdiction.
www.ConsumerHandbook.ca
