Slam the scam this tax season!

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, in 2020, there were 40, 612 victims of fraud in Canada. This number is expected to increase in 2021 because of our increased reliance on digital transactions as we continue to shelter in place and work remotely.

Security analysts are already warning Canadians to watch out for COVID-19 vaccine scams. We also continue to see an increase in fraud scams during tax season.

Protect yourself against fraud this tax season and throughout the year by learning how to recognize, reject and report a scam. 

Recognize

Fraudsters will use any communication vehicle–phone, email, text message, letter, website, social media–to try to get you to give up your personal information. Don’t let them.

You can recognize a scam by the urgency of the message and by the direct request for personal information such as a credit card number, bank account number or your bank account password. 

The University of Manitoba will never:

• Ask you for your login credentials or personal information by email.

The Canada Revenue Agency will never:

• Demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others.
• Give or ask for personal or financial information by email and ask you to click on a link.
• Send you an email with a link to your refund.
• Threaten you with arrest or a prison sentence.
• Use text messages or instant messaging such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to communicate with taxpayers about tax-related issues under any circumstance.

Source: Read more at Slam the scam!

Reject

Watch for the external message notice at the top of any email you receive to your UM email address. If the message comes from a person or organization you don’t recognize, delete it!

• Don’t react to scare tactics: All these attacks depend on scaring you, such as with a lawsuit or criminal charges, that your computer is full of viruses, or that you might miss out on a chance at a great interest rate. Don’t fall for it!
• Verify contacts independently: Legitimate companies and service providers will give you a real business address and a way for you to contact them, which you can independently verify on a company website, support line, etc.
• Know the signs: Does the message/phone call start with a vague information, a generic company name like “card services,” an urgent request or threat and/or an offer that seems impossibly good? Hang up or click that delete button!

Source: Protect yourself against fraud this tax season 

Report

Forward any suspicious messages to infosec[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

Fraud Prevention Month phishing simulation

To help you recognize, reject and report an email scam, the university will be sending a phishing simulation email to all staff and faculty during Fraud Prevention Month this March.  Watch out for any suspicious messages in your Inbox and slam the scam!

Canadian anti-fraud resources

• Slam the scam – Protect yourself against fraud – Canada Revenue Agency
• National Cyber Security Alliance
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Report fraud and cybercrime – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

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