Fraud awareness

Relationship Scam:

Scammers contact their victims online and gain their trust by building fake relationships. After they have established trust, scammers ask their victims for money for various travel expenses, fees or other emergency expenses. If you’ll be looking for love online, remain alert for signs that the other party in your relationship may not be who they say they are. Remember, you should never send money to someone you have not met in person. 

Internet Purchase Scam:

Scammers use websites or online classifieds to advertise items, such as mobile phones, event tickets and cars, that don’t exist. Be careful when sending money in response to an online advertisement. 

Advance Fee Scam:

Thieves pose as authentic companies and lure victims into paying fees in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, like a loan, credit card, grant, investment or inheritance money. The victim sends money to the scammer using a money transfer service, but then receives nothing in return. These loans, credit cards, grants, investments or inheritance sums never actually existed. And once the scammers get their money, they are never heard from again. 

Protect yourself from fraud:

• Don’t send money for loan or credit card fees, customs or shipping fees. 
•  Don’t send money to someone you haven’t met in person.  
•  Be suspicious of businesses without a verified street address.
•  Don’t pay for an item or service with a money transfer to an individual.