Shoppers looking online for great deals this holiday season are strongly encouraged by Manitoba RCMP to be on the lookout for scams designed to empty their bank accounts and steal their personal information.

  

Online scams can be basic and straightforward, such as phishing texts that claim package deliveries are delayed or that payment information needs to be verified. They can also be sophisticated, with ads placed on social media that direct people to fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers and travel agencies offering incredible deals. Even charities can be impersonated, with people encouraged to give money to charities that don’t actually exist.

 

There are things Manitobans should look out for to avoid being scammed. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommends you look carefully for spelling errors in texts or on websites, references to a product as “the item,” overseas buyers who are looking to buy without seeing the product first and sellers with recently created social media profiles. 

 

Further steps Manitobans can take include knowing the market value of the product you are looking for, sellers contact information, looking for customer reviews and ratings and using a payment method with fraud protection, such as a credit card.

 

If you or someone you know has been defrauded, report it to the RCMP or your local police service. Your report can help identify links, catch criminals and prevent further frauds.