LAKELAND - Lac La Biche Mounties are joining RCMP from across the county with a season-specific campaign aimed at bringing awareness to online shopping scams.
"With the holidays we often see an increase in scams and fraud,” says Lac La Biche RCMP Cst. Cassandra Calverley, offering a few tips “before you take advantage of that 'great deal’.”
• Check that all software and device security is up to date.
• Change online passwords to something unique.
• Use caution when following links in emails or social media ads.
• Check that the site is encrypted by looking for the small lock in the address bar
• Check that the web address starts with HTTPS: The “S” being the important part.
One common issue that police find when investigating online crimes is that the entire website is a cleverly-disguised fake.
"Always check that that a website it legitimate before providing information,” says Calverley, encouraging residents to check the website’s content for obvious errors or unusual addresses.
"Check the address for typos. If you used an ad to get to it try looking for the website through a search engine to determine they are the same," she said, adding that other sources are available to confirm the practices of valid businesses. "If it’s a business you're not familiar with, check if they have an entry on the Better Business Bureau."
Other tips
• Use safe methods to purchase
• Use a credit card over a debit card online. Credit cards usually have other layers of protection that your debit card may not.
• Check your credit and bank activity and statements regularly especially after making multiple online purchases.
• Emails requesting personal information or payment information are often scams. Always verify with the original company asking for the information.
• Only shop from a trusted source
At the RCMP detachment, Calverley says that wherever the holiday shopping is done this season, the police simply want to offer a present of awareness for all residents.
"With holiday buying online in full swing, we are seeing an increase in scams/frauds already. We want people to be safe while online shopping this holiday season," she said.
