Common scams
With cyber-fraud incidents on the rise and fraudsters waging sophisticated attacks through phone, text, email, and other digital channels, it’s important to recognize the warning signs that someone is trying to scam you.
We’ve identified the most common scams that fraudsters are currently using to steal your money and personal information.
Am I being scammed?
It’s often difficult to tell the difference between a scam and an urgent request or a new opportunity. This tool will help you to determine whether or not you’re being targeted by a common scam and guide you to more information as to how to spot and avoid everyday scams.
Common scams that target your money
Cheque scam
Fraudsters will send you a cheque or draft to purchase an item you’re trying to sell online, but they’ll send you a larger amount than your asking price.
They’ll claim the extra money is to cover shipping or customs fees that you must send to a third party or simply that they sent the wrong amount by accident.
Fraudsters will then ask you to deposit their cheque and refund them the balance. These deposits are usually fraudulent and result in you losing both your items and hard-earned money.
Recognize it
Be instantly cautious when someone offers to pay more than your listed price on an ad.
Reject it
If the potential buyer is acting suspicious, immediately stop talking to them. Make sure not to delete your conversation.
Report an incident or suspicious activity