Fraud Prevention Month launch, #dontbescammed

Toronto Police Service News Release

Media Advisory, Thursday, February 27, 2014, 6 p.m., St. Malachy Catholic School, 80 Bennett Road, Fraud Prevention Month launch, #dontbescammed

Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 4:40 PM
Financial Crimes:  416-808-7300

Every year, thousands of Canadian families and businesses are targeted for fraud. For those who fall victim, the impact can be devastating: life savings, homes and in some cases, lives, have been lost. One of the best weapons in the fight against fraud is education.

To kick off Fraud Prevention Month, media and members of the public are invited to attend St. Malachy Catholic School where the Toronto Police Service, Financial Services Commission of Ontario and partner organizations will teach community members how to recognize, report and avoid common types of fraud, including:

- Insurance fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Cyberfraud
- Identity theft
- Investment fraud
- Real estate fraud and
- Counterfeit money

The event will feature interactive presentations, breakout sessions and displays from the following organizations:

- Bank of Canada
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Canadian Health Care Anti-fraud Association
- Competition Bureau
- Crime Prevention Association of Toronto
- Financial Services Commission of Ontario
- Insurance Bureau of Canada
- Investigation Counsel
- Investor Education Fund
- Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
- National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly
- Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services
- Ontario Securities Commission
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Real Estate Council of Ontario
- Toronto Catholic District School Board
- Toronto Parks and Recreation
- Toronto Police Service
- Victim Services Toronto

Additionally, the following senior officials will offer opening remarks:
- Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Consumer Services
- Mark Stainsby, Senior Competition Law Officer, Competition Bureau
- Joseph Khargie, Director at the 4life Foundation, Master of Ceremonies.

Following the event, representatives from several of the above organizations will be available for media interviews.

Members of the public unable to attend in person are encouraged to watch the event online and interact with participants by following the #DontBeScammed.

This event is being coordinated by the Toronto Police Service's 43 Division, the Toronto Police Service’s Financial Crimes Unit and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.

To register or attend, members of the public should visit the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DontBeScammed. Note that media are not required to register.

Media inquiries can be directed to:

Detective Sergeant Cameron Field at cameron.field@torontopolice.on.ca

Community Engagement Officer Constable Randy Arsenault at
randall.arsenault@torontopolice.on.ca

Kristen Rose, Senior Communications Officer, Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Kristen.rose@fsco.gov.on.ca or at 416-226-7803

Constable David Hopkinson, Corporate Communications, for Detective Sergeant Cameron Field, Financial Crimes Unit