With the holidays fast approaching, the increasing number of shoppers this time of year are especially advised by police to be extra cautious of scammers, particularly with telephone soliciting and when surfing on the Internet, said Sundre RCMP Const. Earl Hutchinson.
Criminals are able to steal personal information over the Internet as well as over the phone from anywhere in the world, said Hutchinson.
He said the scammer could be calling from next door, the next town or thousands of miles away.
Hutchinson also advises not to give out any personal information through text messages.
鈥淢ake sure you don't give out your personal information, your date of birth and any pertinent information that people can use against you,鈥� said Hutchinson.
鈥淢ake sure you know who you're giving the information to and if it's over the Internet that your site is secure.鈥�
Hutchinson said not to give out information such as credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, as well as passwords to computer systems and other important personal information.
鈥淏e vigilant and ensure that if people are asking some inappropriate questions as to things that you normally wouldn't have to pass out,鈥� said Hutchinson.
鈥淭here is no reason for some organizations to have that information.鈥�
He said he is familiar with common Christmas scams such as the 鈥淢icrosoft scam鈥� where the scammer calls and says they are a representative for Microsoft and then says a home computer has a virus and directs citizens to a website to fix it. Once at that website, the scammer gains access to the computer and all the user's information, Hutchinson. He said they will typically also ask for credit card information to 鈥減ay for the service鈥�.
鈥淭he big thing is for people to be aware of these types of solicitations.鈥�
He said the tactics which scammers use vary, consisting of 鈥渓ittle things鈥� that people aren't aware of. This includes the scammer saying they are a representative for 鈥淢icrosoft Corporation鈥� (which is a fictitious company) rather than saying they are from 鈥淢icrosoft Company鈥� (the real company).
鈥淵ou really have to pay attention to what's being said to you and ask for clarification if you're not happy with it,鈥� said Hutchinson.
鈥淐ommon sense prevails that you're not going to give out private information to an unknown person. Sometimes people do and then once they have that information there is not much we can do with it.鈥�
He recommends people put filters on their computers, which can be discussed with a computer specialist.
If someone feels like they are being scammed, they are directed to http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/home-eng.html
