Westmeath — Frauds and Scams seem to be coming from all sides and worsening every year. Awareness offers the best protection. But knowing what is trustworthy is not always easy as the perpetrators can be very clever. Don’t feel embarrassed. You are not at fault.
On Tuesday evening February 7th from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Westmeath Recreation Centre Hall, two special guest speakers will outline the state of frauds and scams currently happening in Canada.
Keith Ward, Intelligence Researcher / Profiler from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/, and Constable Shawn Peever, Community Safety Officer of the Ontario Provincial Police, will offer their analysis of the ever-expanding world of fraudsters and scammers.
It might even have happened to you:
You answer your phone and the caller seems friendly, or not so friendly; warning you that your account is needing your immediate attention; but you are actually talking to a fraudster.
You open your e-mail inbox and the message seems real with the correct logos and format; but you are now the target of a phishing scheme.
You buy yourself some item only to find it is a “knock-off” – a fake; not the real deal you looked forward to owning. You’ve been ripped off.
You are called on to play Good Samaritan. Can you help some poor fellow with some problem and send some money? It appeals to your kind heartedness and you write a cheque. But you are played for a sucker. It was all a hoax.
You are the winner of a luxury item – you are so lucky. Just send a “fee” to the caller and the prize is yours. You are now a victim.
This timely event is part of the Speakers Series being offered by the Riverview Seniors Social Club with funding from a New Horizons for Seniors Program grant. It is free of charge and open to all.
