Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 71 FRAUDS Definition Frauds are clearly illegal acts. Fraud occurs when a con artist uses deception tomake a profit or to take your money. They pretend to be someone they are not or say they will do something they don’t do. Example: A con artist from out of town may sell you a puppy over the internet. He/she will give you every indication that the puppy will be sent to you once your money arrives. You are confident that the puppy will be sent to you so you send your money. You never see the puppy. In fact, the con artist may not have owned the puppy in the first place, instead using pictures stolen from another website to entice buyers. This is clearly illegal because he/she was trying to take your money with no intention of giving you anything in return. TYPES OF FRAUD 1-900 Fraud Consumers are encouraged, usually through a mail offer, to call a 1-900 number in order to find out how much money they have won. It is implied that the consumer has won a large prize (cash, cars, boats etc.), and a brief phone call to the 1-900 number will confirm the prize. The offer usually states the cost of the call per minute (around $4.99) and the average length of the call (usually 7 or 8 minutes) for a total cost of $35 to $40. Most 1-900 numbers are linked to a voice-response system that prevents the consumer from speeding up the call. More often than not, the prize available is minimal (one or two dollars), and the consumer will lose $35.00 for every call they make. Note: The 1-900 and 1-976 are pay-per call services. You are charged either per minute or flat rate per call. Only prefixes 1-800, 1-866, 1-877, or 1-888 are toll-free. What You Can Do About 1-900 Fraud Read through the offer carefully and understand the odds of winning. Know that some telephone companies offer free services that will block access to all 900/976 numbers; others charge a fee. Offers vary and consumers should check with their telephone provider for details. Note: Reactivating the 900/976 numbers service may result in a $10.00 fee. Report 1-900 fraud to PhoneBusters. If you are a victim, contact the local police (if applicable) or the local detachment of the RCMP. Fraud Cent$ Toolkit for Seniors Helping Seniors Avoid Fraud
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