Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

March is Fraud Prevention Month and the Nova Scotia RCMP is warning the public about the top ten scams in Nova Scotia, based on dollar losses.

Every year, thousands of Canadians fall victim to fraud. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Nova Scotians lost $7,330,866.07 to scams in 2023.

Many don’t think it can happen to them, but scammers use sophisticated ways to target people of all ages. The best way to fight these types of crimes is through awareness and education.

Below are the top ten scams in Nova Scotia from 2023, based on dollar losses:

• 1 – Investment: Scammers solicit investments into false or deceptive investment companies that promise higher-than-normal returns.
• 2 – Service: scammers offer services such as tech support, air duct cleaning, or new cellphone service plans, in attempt to steal personal information.
• 3 – Romance: Using fake profiles on social media and dating websites, scammers convince people to enter into a virtual relationship with the goal of having them send financial support. Often victims are asked to send compromising photos of themselves and are subsequently extorted for money.
• 4 – Spear phishing: Pretending to be from legitimate sources, and using what look to be legit email addresses, scammers try to get businesses or individuals to send them money.
• 5 – Job: These scams involve online ads and fake job interviews; victims are often directed to purchase and send gift cards using fraudulent cheques.

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