The number of Quebecers who are victims of attempted fraud has almost doubled since the start of the pandemic, according to a recent survey by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
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According to the results of the RBC Fraud Prevention Month survey, nearly half of Quebec respondents (46%) and 48% of Canadians say they have been the target of attempted fraud, compared to 26% in 2021.
The majority of Quebecers surveyed (54%) consider it difficult to determine whether an email, text message or online advertisement constitutes a scam, as do Canadians who are also in the same proportion.
About 42% admit to being increasingly targeted by fraudsters posing as trusted brands, while in Ontario, 52% have the same opinion, more than the national average (47%).
The study shows that 35% of Quebecers know members of their family or have friends who have been victims of fraud, while 15% of them say they are embarrassed to admit having been victims.
“We are seeing more sophistication and creativity in the way scams are being perpetrated,” said Kevin Purkiss, vice president of anti-fraud at RBC, in a statement.
“There’s also been an increase in attempts to convince customers to send money through secure payment methods such as Interac e-Transfers and wire transfers, as well as fraudsters claiming to work for government agencies offering COVID-related support,” he added.
Lost amounts reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center soared to $379 million in 2021 from $160 million in 2020.
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Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com