47 Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers Image by www.freepik.com needs repair. Do not assume what they tell you is true or that the price they are asking is fair. Get several opinions on whether the work needs to be done and how much it should cost. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints about the individual or the company. Check carefully before you agree to any financial investment. • Beware of investments or opportunities that seem questionable or illegal. Scam artists often promise big profits if you do something improper, such as smuggling gemstones or money out of a country.The real purpose is to make you afraid to call the police when you find out that you have been a victim. • Check your credit rating once a year: You can order your credit report by telephone or by mail at no cost from a credit-reporting agency, such as TransUnion and Equifax. Purchases made by a con artist who has stolen your identity will show up in the report. • If you think you have been made a victim, take immediate action. Do not be embarrassed or ashamed. Fraud is a crime carried out by sophisticated scam artists who are experts in deception. It is not your fault.They are entirely to blame.You may be targeted again.You need to take immediate action to prevent further losses. o Call your financial institution and credit card issuer so they can stop any further transactions – use the phone book to make sure that you are calling the right number. oTell your Internet provider if you think your Internet account has been compromised. o Contact PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free). PhoneBusters is the central agency in Canada that collects information on fraud complaints. The information is disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. o Call the police. • Be aware that seniors who are made victims once are often targeted by scam artists again. Sometimes you will even receive a second offer from the same scam artist offering to help you get your lost money back. You will likely not get your money back, but some scam artists will try to take even more from you. They may sell your name to other con artists who will try to deceive you with new offers. • Warn your family and friends so they do not also become victims of the same fraud. justice.gc.ca Financial Fraud by Strangers (continued)
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