Traditionally, one of the ways fraudsters have accessed people’s accounts is by accessing their cards. When you hear about someone’s debit card being skimmed at a gas station or store, people often wonder whether it’s too risky to continue to use a debit card. Of course, it only takes a moment before I realize that…
Category: Fraud Awareness
Mystery Shopper Scam
Even though Albertans and Canadians are becoming more tech savvy every day, high-tech fraudsters are usually one step ahead of the average person, applying new techniques all the time. One not-so-new-scam which seems to make a comeback every so many years is the Mystery Shopper Scam. The Scam Sometimes, it actually comes to you in…
7 Tips to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime where your personal information—anything from your name, driver’s license, or Social Insurance Number—has been compromised by an imposter who intends to commit fraud in your name. With your Social Insurance Number, someone can easily obtain false lines of credit and rack up significant debt in your name. With a…
Shredding Event Coming to Wainwright, AB
Protecting yourself and your friends and family from fraud can be as easy as disposing safely of documents that could be used for identity theft. Encompass Credit Union is helping you with that by hosting a shredding day, May 29, 2019 in Wainwright, AB. The Spring Shredding Day will be held in the Wainwright Encompass…
The Old Switcheroo – Employment Scams
According to the Better Business Bureau of Canada (BBB), Canadians were scammed to the tune of $91 million dollars in 2016, up by $30 million over the previous year. The worst part is that it is believed to only be about five percent of what actually is lost to scams due to a lack of…
Be Fraud Smart – Use Alerts
For years, you’ve been told to protect your credit cards or debit cards and protect your PIN. It’s still good advice to keep your personal code your own, and your card firmly in your possession. Financial institutions are less likely to guarantee your funds if you share your PIN or card freely, even with family…
Protect Your Heart and Your Wallet
It is almost too hard to believe that scammers would use someone’s charity or heart against them, but that’s exactly what happens in Romance Scams, which cost Canadians $17 million last year. Although Online dating is becoming more and more popular, it also makes people more vulnerable. Online dating is big business to scammers, and…
