Mass Marketing Scams
Mass marketing scams often include telemarketing calls or letters that are designed to pull at your heart strings and steal your money in the process. They can include requests for charitable donations, promises of spectacular prizes, or even claims of an emergency involving a family member.
Recognize
- High pressure – often callers will push you for immediate action
- Do research – charities should have a registered charitable tax number. You can confirm this number through the Canada Revenue Agency (1-800-267-2384)
- Some common scams include fraudulent calls to help family members also known as the Grandparent Scam, Lottery/Sweepstakes Scams, Nigerian Beneficiary Scam
- For a comprehensive list of current scams visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Report
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or 1-888-495-8501
- Contact your local police
Protect
- If you have to pay anything to win a prize – it’s a scam.
- Ask for written information about a charity including name, address and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fundraiser will give you information about the charity's mission, how your donation will be used and proof that your contribution is tax deductible.
- Don’t be afraid to request further documentation from the caller so you can verify the validity of the company.
- When in doubt – hang up the phone.
Other Resources
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