Email, phone scams are on the rise; younger people falling victim
It is not your imagination, fraudulent texts, email and phone messages are on the rise across Canada, confirmed the Better Business Bureau.
When scammesr send out messages pretending to be something they’re not, like a bank, police officer or delivery service, it’s called an “impersonation scam.”
Simone Lis, president of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland BC, says the more scams there are, the more people are vulnerable.
“There’s not only a rise to the number of scams we are seeing, but also the number of people who have lost money to these kinds of scams,” said
These deceitful email and text messages are so prevalent because they are very easy to execute. With one click of a button the crooks are able to send these kinds of messages to hundreds of people.
For example, only hours after the B.C. government announced drivers would be getting a fuel rebate, people began receiving bogus texts promising quick payment from an auto insurer -- if they clicked a link.
“Scammers are in a sense a business, so they are paying attention to the news and this yields opportunity for them,” said Lis.
Historically seniors are the biggest scam victims, but younger people aged 25 to 34 years old are now losing the most money, according to Lis.
One explanation for why this change in demographics is underway -- younger people are online more often, and they want to get things done quickly. So, they may respond without thinking things through first.
“Nobody should be embarrassed to fall prey to a scam, it happens to everybody. There is a scam for everybody,” assured Lis.
She advised not responding right away to suspect messages. This will allow people time to do research, and to ask others for advice.
Lis says that anyone who happens to be scammed can help prevent others from falling victim by reporting it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.