May 2019 – Fake News

May 2019 – Fake News

May 2019 Fake News Scams Romance Scams his is a difficult topic. No one likes to admit that me how meticulous and persistent these scammers can be. omance scams are typically conducted through social To protect yourself, find out in advance about the laws and media or dating websites, using fake profiles to lure customs on relationships and marriage in the country where Elizabeth May they’ve been tricked. But far too many people have The scammers constantly change their phone numbers so they R potential victims into relationships. Once a relationship is built they say they’re from, and what the visa and immigration laws Your Member of Parliament in Saanich-Gulf Islands T been victimized by telephone or online scams. There is cannot be blocked, and the phone numbers resemble local and a semblance of trust has been established (usually after are for that nationality coming to Canada. NEVER disclose a need to increase vigilance when it comes to protecting phone numbers so that residents are more likely to pick up. long, intimate conversations and tokens of love sent by the your banking information, NEVER send intimate photos (as ourselves from scammers. They have become more cunning in fraudster in the form of gifts), the fraudster eventually requests those can be used as blackmail at a later point). /ElizabethMayMP In the sections below I describe two common scams I hear their approach to stealing our money or personal information. money or banking information. @ElizabethMay about from constituents. Both scams are about personal How to report it/what to do if you find yourself in this kind of I’ve become aware of two types of scams that are a serious aspects of our lives, so it can be difficult to reach out for help. Usually the fraudsters live in other countries and will ask for situation: threat to my constituents: Revenue Canada (CRA) scams and CONSTITUENCY OFFICE PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE Whether you’ve been victimized or are in the process of being money for travel costs to visit their new lover (but will never romance scams. actually physically show) – or they will suggest investing money 1. If you did send money or share financial information, victimized, or if this has affected a loved one, it can be very into a business opportunity that could support the financial report it to the financial institution used (e.g., your bank, 1 - 9711 Fourth Street 518 Confederation Building The incredibly manipulative persons who conduct these scams difficult to discuss. cost of being together, or ask for money to support them Western Union, MoneyGram). Sidney, BC V8L 2Y8 House of Commons have made it very difficult to discern these situations as Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 I would like to be of help. Even if you don’t want to disclose through personal crises (e.g. needing money to support their Phone | 250-657-2000 scams. Their tactics take advantage of a person’s Canadian visa application, fake tragedies, medical issues, 2. Gather all information pertaining to the situation, your name or personal details, my office can help with advice Toll-Free | 1-800-667-9188 Phone | 613-996-1119 vulnerabilities, coercing or threatening their targets— asking for a ransom while pretending to be kidnapped, various including the scammer’s profile name, how you made if you have questions about Revenue Canada or Immigration Fax | 250-657-2004 Fax | 613-996-0850 sometimes under the guise of government employees. other hardships/sob-stories). contact, social media screenshots, emails, etc. and contact Email | elizabeth.may.c1a@parl.gc.ca Email | elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca Canada. your local police. I was approached by constituents in my series of January It is incredibly difficult to identify a romance scam. As the Community Meetings throughout the riding, and they showed victim is manipulated by the fraudster to hide the nature of 3. File a report with the CAFC toll-free at 1-888-495-8501 or TABLE OF CONTENTS the relationship, banks or family relations have trouble online at www.antifraudcentre.ca. Introduction recognizing that exorbitant amounts of money – disguised as Some say that we are in a post-truth era, but the reality is that the Introduction ........................................................................... 1 property or business investments - are being used for deceitful 4. Notify the dating website or social media site where you truth matters today more than ever. ends. Reported instances of romance fraud are much lower met the scammer. Scammers usually have more than one What is “Fake News”? ........................................................ 2 I am very concerned that the recognition that there is such a thing CRA Scams than the statistics because many victims will not report the account. Be proactive, tell family, friends, coworkers and Canada is not immune: What can we do as citizens? 2 crime or inform their loved ones due to shame, fear of ridicule, neighbours about your experience to warn them about as “truth” and that it matters not to tell lies is increasingly treated and denial. Romance scams are the highest grossing scams romance scams. as an anachronism, a quaint tenet of by-gone days. I am appalled An instructive Canadian example: the hysteria over raudulent CRA communications and scammers sending the police, compared to other Internet frauds (according the CAFC’s 2016 when various leaders in Canada show no remorse when, à la Motion 103 ............................................................................3 impersonating CRA agents continue to rise. At least 60, Trump, they are exposed as having deliberately misled the voter. leave voicemails that are threatening or ask for personal statistics, source: http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/en/gazette/romance- 5. If you’ve sent money or transferred money or goods on 000 Canadians have reported being targeted by scams). behalf of a scammer, the police and financial institutions Attacks on legitimate news organizations and the “media” in The most recent efforts to scare Canadians over F or financial information. general are creeping into Canadian politics, while more people are phone scams over the past five years and more than $10 need to be aware in order to properly investigate, recover nothing ................................................................................... 4 relying on highly dubious sources from various websites. million dollars has been stolen in that same time period. If you ever find yourself victim to one of these scams, contact There is a greater danger than just financial loss. Some persons stolen funds and/or goods if possible and work toward Scams ...................................................................................... 5 leave the country to visit their ‘partner’ in a foreign country in preventing further criminal activity. The truth matters. And being able to discern who is telling the (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cra-phone-tax-scam- your local police service immediately and then contact CRA to inform them that your information has been compromised. an effort to either retrieve them, or to help them get into truth is increasingly important. CRA Scams ............................................................................ 5 marketplace-1.4830141) Canada, or because they plan to move to the foreign country Reporting romance scams helps fraud authorities to warn other to be with their ‘partner.’ In some cases, Canadians have left people about current scams, monitor trends and disrupt scams As we enter another federal election campaign, I want to focus this Romance Scams ................................................................... 6 CRA scams use various methods to contact you: by telephone, You can report deceptive telemarketing to the Canadian Anti their jobs, homes, selling all of their belongings for a marriage where possible. newsletter on how citizens can effectively separate truth from lies, -Fraud Centre by telephone, 1-888-495-8501, or visit their 2018) mail, text message, and e-mail. These scammers may insist you abroad that fails to take place. Some cases can result in violent real news from fake news, and be watchful for attempts by foreign website: http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/. If your social entities to interfere with our elections. must pay fictitious debt to the CRA immediately to avoid situations including kidnappings and forced imprisonment. Gould’s conclusions were echoed by Canada’s former National further penalties, or request personal information so that the insurance number has been stolen, contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218. For further information about CRA scams, and Just as 2018 ended, the Liberal government succeeded in getting Security Advisor, Richard Fadden. Noting that foreign entities had taxpayer can receive a refund or benefit payment; leaving you the Election Modernization Act (Bill C-76) passed into law in time interfered in the United States, England, France and Germany, how to protect yourself, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/ vulnerable to identity theft. for this fall’s election. Fadden said, “I can see no rationale for concluding that we will not revenue-agency/corporate/security/protect-yourself-against- be the subject of meddling as well.” Similar to the websites pretending to be news sources, these fraud.html. There is much in that bill which is good and necessary. It repairs scammers have created fake CRA websites that look much of the damage done to our voting process in the previous (CTV News, “Former national security adviser questions feds' plan to prevent election meddling,” January 6, 2019) legitimate to the untrained eye. When receiving My constituency office can give advice and assistance with CRA government’s so-called “Fair Elections Act.” That bill made it cases. If you feel unsure about a call or email you’ve received, harder for people to vote and restricted the scope of action of the communications from what looks to be the CRA, it is important Chief Electoral Officer. As well, Bill C-76 attempts to update our So, what can we do to ensure Canadians vote based on facts - and to analyze what you have received before taking any action.

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