Some scams you can see coming from a mile away, but for others, it’s not figured out until it’s too late. Last week the Weyburn Police Service received two reports of cyber fraud. One did manage to prevent the fraud after the attempt raised a red flag, but another person experienced invasive banking fraud. 

“We continue to have incidents of cybercrime, where individuals are being contacted through social media and asking for either money because they won a prize, or giving their information,” said Police Chief Marlo Pritchard.

One way to help prevent cybercrime is to report even the unsuccessful attempts at online fraud. In fact, one complainant reported she was contacted through a Facebook friend saying that she had won a Facebook lottery. However, to claim the prize, she first had to send money to an Ontario address. No money was sent and it was reported to police on January 15th. The incident remains under investigation.

Chief Pritchard said if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

“We're reminding everyone, don't be giving money or personal information to anyone they do not know," he cautioned. "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. But please do report it to us, there is work at the national level and the provincial level, and we do follow these up."

“They're difficult to investigate, just because the origin is not often from our province, but we do investigate them,” he added.

On January 17th a person reported identity theft after his bank account information had been obtained and numerous transactions were made. A person of interest has been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

"There are times where people do steal your identity from Facebook, and whatever information that you've got on there can be used, so those are the ones you should be reporting."

Cybercriminals find their way in when passwords are easy to guess, social media profiles are set to public, and even through unsecured wireless internet networks. Find tips on how to prevent being a victim of cybercrime HERE.

Learn more about how the Government of Canada is working to prevent cybercrime HERE.