How to Report Email Scams in Canada

Email scams enter Canada from around the world.

An email inbox can be a dangerous place. Internet con artists flood the web with emails as a means of separating people from their hard-earned cash, and while they may be easy for the web-savvy to spot, other people might not catch on until it's too late, so reporting email scams is an excellent way to look out for fellow Canadians.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet Connection

Instructions

Learn how to spot an email scam.

1. Scam emails can seem innocent and trustworthy upon first glance, but most have a few things in common. Many such messages will contain what the Royal Canadian Mounted Police describe as "upsetting or exciting information, demand an urgent response or employ a false pretense or statement." For example, an an email might say a long-lost relative has died and left the recipient money, but that it must be claimed by a certain date. Emails claiming to be from foreign governments (especially those based in Nigeria) asking for bank account information are classic email scams, and have been conning the innocent for years.

2. Aside from emails claiming to be from foreign princes and the like, internet phishing sites are increasingly commonplace. These web pages resemble those of legit banks and businesses, and ask customers to "verify" or "update" their information, in the course of which, they hand over things like account numbers to criminals. These sites often have links which open websites that look proper, but have strange, illogical addresses. The emails themselves often have often have misspelled words and poor grammar, and a real bank or proper online business won't ask for sensitive information via email.

3. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have established a website allowing the public to report email scams. By visiting this site, internet users can report the fraudulent activity to Phone Busters, a government-run organization dedicated to fighting fraud in many forms. Both sites advise potential victims on what to do, such as contact their bank or credit bureau to have a fraud alert enacted, and allow those who haven't been victimized to report wrongdoing.

Tips & Warnings

• If an offer in an email sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

References

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Internet Fraud
• Winnipeg Police: Reporting Email Scams
• Concordia University: What is Phishing?

Resources

• Phone Busters: Canada's Scam Reporting Center