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Tips to avoid common scams

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March is Fraud Prevention Month, so the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is sharing tips to avoid common scams.

Scammers target individuals through emails, phone calls, and social media messages. Online shopping scams, phishing (fraudulent emails or messages pretending to be from reputable companies), and investment fraud are among the most common scams reported to the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB recommends that businesses and consumers not send money to someone that you have not met, never to click links or attachments sent by unsolicited emails or texts, not to trust the legitimacy of something based upon its looks or design, resist any pressures to forfeit information or money, and to monitor accounts for suspected fraud or identity theft.

Visit the Better Business Bureau’s scam tracker to report a suspected scam.

Learn more about Fraud Prevention Month here.

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Dieppe women arrested in rental deposit scam

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Two people from Dieppe have been arrested in connection with a rental deposit scam.

Codiac RCMP say a 28-year-old woman was arrested on March 3, and another woman, who is 44 years old, was arrested two days later.

In February, police received several reports of rentals advertised on social media, but once the first month’s rent was paid, the fraudster would stop communication.

Police say two victims were defrauded of $7000 total.

The RCMP has reason to believe there may be additional victims.

The suspects are believed to have used multiple names, aliases, and email addresses to receive e‑transfer payments.

Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this scam is asked to contact the Codiac RCMP at 506‑857‑2400.

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AI fraud costs New Brunswickers more than $6M

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New Brunswickers reported losing more than $6.2 million to investment frauds and scams last year.

The majority were committed online.

According to the Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for fraudsters to mislead people.

“These days, fraudsters are using AI and deepfakes to make scams look and sound real,” said Marissa Sollows, the FCNB’s director of communications and public affairs.

“You might hear a familiar voice, see a well-known face or receive a message that feels trustworthy, even though it isn’t.”

FCNB’s figure for 2025 is slightly above the $6 million lost to investment scams reported the year before to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), which collects information on fraud and identity theft nationally.

The CAFC estimates only five per cent of fraud is ever reported.

“So the actual amount of money scammed from New Brunswickers could be much higher,” Sollows said.

In an effort to educate the public, and as part of Fraud Prevention Month in March, the FCNB will host a free webinar designed to help New Brunswickers recognize financial fraud in the digital age.

“We’re sharing practical tips to help you protect yourself, your loved ones and the people you support from scams,” Sollows said.

The webinar, Fraud Has a New Face: AI, Deepfakes, and Why Scams Can Be So Hard to Spot, will be held in English on March 17 and in French on March 18 via Zoom.

It will outline how scammers operate and some warning signs to watch for.

Sollows said other tips are available on the FCNB website.

FCNB has also developed two online guides to educate the public.

The first is called Protecting yourself from AI and deepfake scams, featuring overviews of the common types of online scams.

The second, Celebrity Endorsements: Don’t have stars in your eyes, details how celebrities, politicians, journalists and other well-known personalities can have their images or voices manipulated or faked to try to lend legitimacy to offers of goods or services.

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Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns of Valentine’s Day scams

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The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre made a post to Facebook warning those looking for companionship during the season of love.

The bulletin says relationship fraud can occur on dating websites, social media, and through wrong number texts. These are known as conversational attacks.

“The fraudster’s primary goal is to escalate initial communications into a trusting relationship. This can include professions of love, offers of support, financial advice or other emotional lures.”

The perpetrators might ask for money to help with a family emergency, unexpected legal expenses or travel fees. Some cases might include cryptocurrency or other investment scams.

The Anti-Fraud Centre warns of perpetrators being highly organized and skilled at manipulation, saying they invest significant time build trust, carefully studying their targets’ emotions, routines, and vulnerabilities.

“These interactions may feel genuine and deeply personal, making it difficult for victims to recognize the deception until financial or personal harm has already occurred,” the bulletin states.

The Centre says to beware of these warning signs:

  • profiles that seem too perfect
  • someone you have not met in person professing their love to you
  • requests to move conversation to a more private or different method of communication
  • constant excuses to not meet up in person
  • a person who discourages you from talking about them to friends and family
  • distressed or angry messages to force you into sending money
  • poorly written messages or messages addressed to the wrong name
  • unsolicited text messages
  • individuals who “introduce” you to their family on social media to legitimize the relationship
  • anyone offering to “coach” you on crypto investing
  • get rich quick investment opportunities
  • crypto investment opportunities presented over dating sites or social media

Ways to protect yourself include:

  • Do not give out your personal information (name, address, DOB, SIN, banking credentials)
  • Do not accept friend requests from people you do not know
  • Do not invest your money in platforms provided by people you do not know
  • Never send money to someone you have not met
  • Do not respond to unsolicited text messages from numbers or contacts you do not recognize
  • Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your accounts
  • Beware of fraudsters asking you to open and fund new crypto accounts, they will direct you to send it to wallets they control

To learn more about relationship fraud, please visit their website for more information.

Anyone who suspects they have been the target of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police. Visit the Report Cybercrime and Fraud website or report online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

Kenora police alert public after bogus bill surfaces

Kenora police alert public after bogus bill surfaces

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Provincial police in Kenora are warning the public after a counterfeit Canadian banknote was discovered in circulation.

The Ontario Provincial Police say officers were notified on February 6 after a fake $20 bill was used to pay for a taxi ride earlier in the week.

Investigators determined the passenger had passed what appeared to be “prop” money during a fare on February 2.

The taxi driver became suspicious at the time of the transaction and later brought the bill to the Kenora OPP detachment, where it was turned over for further examination.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

The Bank of Canada offers online information on how to identify counterfeit currency and encourages people to routinely check the security features on banknotes to help prevent fake money from circulating.

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3 arrested after fuel card fraud in Neguac area

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Three people have been arrested after officers uncovered what they describe as a series of fraudulent fuel card purchases in the Neguac area.

The RCMP said the investigation began in January 2026 after several Government of New Brunswick fuel cards were used without authorization.

Police said at least five cards were involved, and the losses are more than $6,000.

Officers arrested a 21‑year‑old woman from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation, a 39‑year‑old man from Red Bank First Nation and a 40‑year‑old man from Lavillette on January 5 in a Brantville parking lot.

Police said the arrests were made without incident. All three were later released and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Corporal Danny Cyr of the Neguac RCMP said in the release that local businesses, especially gas stations, should report any suspicious credit card activity.

“Vigilance remains key in preventing further offences,” Cyr said.

RCMP also said they believe additional fuel cards may still be in use, and the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Neguac RCMP at 506-776-3000.

Details can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

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Ontario electrical utilities warn of holiday season scams

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Ontario’s electrical utilities, including Hydro One, are advising the public to be vigilant of fraud this holiday season.

The utility companies have come up with three Ps for fraud prevention: pause, prove, and protect.

They advise pausing when discovering a notification that could be remotely suspicious, rather than rushing into a payment scheme that may not be legitimate.

The utilities recommend proving the veracity of any potential scam by directly contacting utility companies, rather than being contacted (use the phone number on a utility bill.)

Finally, they recommend protecting all personal information, which should not be given out on a whim.

The public should be wary of any demands for immediate payment, which are meant to put pressure on individuals to take quick action before thinking through the possibility of fraud.

Any promises of refunds or updating account information should always demand scrutiny.

Utility companies will never ask a customer to pay their bill using gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or cryptocurrency (this advice can be used for scams far beyond just utilities).

Those who are concerned they may have been defrauded can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501

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Mounties launch new online option to report fraud and cybercrime

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The RCMP want to make it easier for Canadians to report cybercrime and fraud.

Mounties say the information gathered on the new Report Cybercrime and Fraud website will help police solve cases and disrupt criminal activity.

The information gathered from these reports is geared to form a more complete picture of how these threats are affecting Canadians and ultimately prevent further victimization.

“The idea behind this is to simplify the process,” says Jeff Horncastle with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. “The new system offers a range of reporting options depending on the type of incident that the user has experienced and how much knowledge they have about fraud or cybercrime.”

He adds users can report for themselves, others or for businesses and organizations.

As well, the new system is not a replacement for existing reporting channels so the call centre will remain open.

It is estimated that less than 10 per cent of cybercrimes and fraud are reported in Canada, possibly due to embarrassment, fear of reputational damage, or a lack of awareness of what resources are available.

The RCMP says allowing people to do report online and anonymously on the new system will help bring those numbers up.

TBPS Thunder Bay Police Car

Police warning residents to watch out for rental scams

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The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) says it regularly gets reports from residents who have been victims of rental scams.

Rental scams usually involve fake landlords pretending to offer properties for rent.

The scams often hit prospective tenants who cannot view the property in person – for example, because they live elsewhere.

Scammers may demand a payment in advance, such as a security deposit, and vanish after receiving their payment.

TBPS recommends only sending money to people who have been met in person, and only for properties that have been visited in person.

They recommend asking for identification from prospective landlords, recording license plates if possible, and searching for the owner in the Land Titles office.

Those concerned about rental scams can find more information from the TBPS site or from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Fraud and cyber crimes can be reported here.

OPP SUV

Charges laid following sports betting investigation in northern Ontario

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Two Thunder Bay residents are facing charges following an investigation into suspicious Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) PROLINE sports betting activity in Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.

On March 20, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s investigation and enforcement bureau was contacted by the OLG about suspicious betting activity at several gas stations.

The investigation revealed that thousands of gift cards had been compromised, resulting in fraud exceeding $400,000.

As a result of the investigation, a 36-year-old is facing the following charges:

  • Fraud over $5,000
  • Laundering proceeds of crime
  • Conspiracy
  • Identity theft
  • Forgery
  • Utter forged document
  • Possession of property obtained by crime

A 45-year-old is also facing the following charges:

  • Fraud over $5,000
  • Laundering proceeds of crime
  • Conspiracy
  • Utter forged document
  • Possession of property obtained by crime

Both of the accused remain in custody with a future court date.