Crime Stoppers and police in Halton Region are hosting a free webinar on frauds and scams to raise awareness among the public.
The two-hour webinar will take place from 10:30 am to 12: 30 pm, on Thursday March 10. Registration and information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/272126968087.
This webinar will highlight tactics utilized by fraudsters to defraud people, police said in a media statement. Members of the Halton Police fraud unit will talk about scams and frauds that they are seeing within the region. They will also provide important information on how individuals can protect themselves and resources on reporting frauds.
One fraud that is on the rise is Cryptocurrency scams and frauds, police noted. With this scam, fraudsters will offer cryptocurrency buy-ins promising a high rate of return and in a short amount of time. Instead, the victim will lose their investment and sometimes their personal and financial information. Cryptocurrencies operate independently of a central bank and are currently unregulated in Canada, the statement said. Police want the public to be aware that no government agencies will ever request payment in the form of cryptocurrencies.
While the webinar will provide information to all ages, it is targeted for Halton’s most vulnerable citizens — seniors and newcomers.
Police Coordinator, Detective Constable Nadine Clarke stated that “Unfortunately fraudsters target older adults as well as newcomers. Halton Regional Police Service has a designated Fraud Unit, an Intake Fraud Unit, as well as designated Older Adult Investigators, and Community Officers in each district, that provide education and follow up to these vulnerable populations. Education is the key and Police believe these types of partnerships and knowledge sharing is the way to combat Fraud.”
March is Fraud Awareness month. Crime Stoppers of Halton and Halton Regional Police Service say that information is the key to preventing these types of crimes.
