Nova Scotians lost a record-breaking $3.6 million to scammers in 2022, up from $2.5 million the previous year, according to the RCMP.
“Fraudsters continue to steal hard-earned money from people in every corner of our province,” said Sgt. Andrew Joyce of the RCMP financial crime unit in a release.
“False investment opportunities, fake relationships, and bogus prize winnings are costing Nova Scotians thousands.”
In terms of dollar losses, investment scams were the costliest, with Nova Scotians losing about $1.8 million to fake or misleading investments last year.
Here are some of the other top scams in the province:
- Romance scams: $616,051
- Prize scams: $313,187
- Spear phishing: $276,512
- Vendor fraud: $164,807
- Job scams: $134,132
- Service scams: $118,342
- Extortion: $104,128
- Merchandise scams: $67,547
- Emergency (jail, accident, hospital, help) scams: $60,616.
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Joyce noted that March is Fraud Prevention Month and said Nova Scotians should be alert to scam activity, which he described as “rampant” and “devastatingly costly.”
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The release said in order to reduce the chances of being a victim of fraud, people should:
- Avoid giving out their personal or financial information to unknown callers, texters or emailers;
- Resist acting immediately when pressured to give someone money;
- Never send cryptocurrency or gift cards as payment;
- Be aware that government agencies and police don’t request payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and will not show up at someone’s residence to collect money.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of fraud should contact their nearest RCMP detachment or local police, the release said.
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