Most active scams in Saskatchewan
Scam activity continued to thrive in 2013. In 2013, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) received daily inquiries about opportunities presented to consumers. The most cited scams included online purchasing, work from home and close relative emergency scams. BBB believes it is important to educate the public by maintaining a high awareness of scams occurring in the marketplace.
With the emergence of internetbased local advertising websites such as Kijiji, UsedRegina.com, UsedStoon.com, Craigslist and others, the perpetrators of online purchasing scams have found a home where they can function anonymously. The scam requires wiring of funds to acquire goods that are never delivered, or the shipment of goods to a third party on receipt of a payment that subsequently proves to be counterfeit. Consumers transacting over the internet should use secure payment services and secure webpages with the “https” marker, or transact only on a face-to-face basis, exchanging cash for goods with witnesses present. Consumers need to act with extreme caution.
Work from home scams appeal to those keen to earn extra income. These scams are sophisticated, with requirements that add legitimacy to the job application process. An alleged business engaged in providing mystery shopping services advertises locally on an online site or in a small classified ad seeking individuals wanting to earn extra income by working from home and shopping at local retailers. The alleged business will have a professional website and require applicants to submit a resume and enrol in a training program, lending credibility to the opportunity. When the first task is assigned, a cheque is sent by mail or courier and the shopping is to be initiated immediately. When the cheque arrives, a message communicates that a second task has been added, requiring testing a non-bank money transfer service. The victim is required to wire funds to recipients in out-of-country locations. Of course, the cheque is bogus and returned NSF after the victim has wired funds to third parties in other locations. Purchased consumable goods leave the victim liable for the total amount and the perpetrators holding the cash. Consumers should decline opportunities to participate in secret shopping, and walk away from any opportunity involving wired funds to third parties not known to the consumer. Individuals interested in working from home need to authenticate and validate the legitimacy of any business offering work from home opportunities. Inquiries about such opportunities can be made to law enforcement agencies, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the BBB.
The close relative scam is a version of the “Grand Parent Emergency Scam” and relies on phone calls to create urgency on the part of the recipient family member. The caller claims they have been involved in an unfortunate incident like an arrest or assault, requiring cash to resolve the matter. Callers don’t identify themselves, instead using terms like “favourite grandson” or “youngest niece.” Victims mention a name that is immediately adopted by the caller, who then plays the scripted role and requests secrecy so parents aren’t made aware. Consumers receiving such calls should know that the relative is safe and healthy enough to have placed the call, and that reduces the level of urgency.Victims should verify with parents that the relative is out of the country or away from home. The seniors’ market is a target for such scams, and consumers should invest time in educating and communicating with the elders in their family. Let seniors in your family know what their grandchildren, nieces and nephews are doing. Stay in touch and encourage them to contact you first, rather than responding to any such call directly.