Watch above: Many people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season making them vulnerable targets. Aaron Streck finds out about some holiday scams and how residents can avoid being taken in by them.
SASKATOON – This time of year, people are juggling a lot with Christmas shopping and holiday preparations added to the regular day-to-day operations. While many are distracted, fraudsters are swooping in.
“Fraud and people scamming others for their money is something that happens year round but certainly we see during the holiday season that people are more willing to give,” said Saskatoon police spokesperson Alyson Edwards.
“They’re a little more open, perhaps a little less questioning in who it is asking for donations.”
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Last week, police received two reports from residents on Porteous Crescent where two men had gone to homes asking for donations; in one case representing a church and in another a shelter.
“If someone is coming to your door and asking for donations make sure it’s a legitimate charity, usually these people have ID that state their affiliation with the charity, they have some form of documentation so you can feel a little more assured, that being said it never hurts to ask questions,” said Edwards.
Preying on people’s vulnerabilities, fraudsters continue to evolve.
READ MORE: Police issue warning on credit card fraud over the holidays
“They’re always reinventing their stories and the scams so really it’s a matter of people paying attention to their instincts, if your gut is telling you something’s not right, it perhaps is not right and they need to give us a call,” said Edwards.
Anyone who wants to report suspicious activity can call police at 306-975-8300.
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