Launch of Fraud Prevention Month for March

Media advisory, Thursday, February 25, 2016, 10:30 a.m., Headquarters, media gallery, News conference, Launch of Fraud Prevention Month for MarchThursday, February 25, 2016 - 4:59 AM
Financial Crimes:  416-808-7312

On Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., in the media gallery at headquarters, Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes will be launching Fraud Prevention Month for March.

Detective Sergeant Rob Stewart, other members of Financial Crimes, and special guests will attend the news conference.

The news conference will be available on the TOC and will be live-streamed.

The philosophy is for Canadians to recognize, reject, and report fraud. Reduce fraud by increasing fraud awareness.

The launch will focus on changing your PIN and protecting yourself online.

Our Social Media Working Group partners will be in attendance to address the media.

• Competition Bureau – Speaker: Stephan Luciw, Assistant Deputy Commissioner,
Recognizing, Rejecting and Reporting Fraud. How Canadian consumers and businesses can protect themselves from becoming the victims of fraud.

• Bank of Canada – Speaker: Manuel Parreira
Protecting Yourself from Counterfeit Money, both Canadian and US.

• Insurance Bureau of Canada – Speaker: Kathy Metzger
Insurance crime is not victimless. IBC educates consumers on how to detect and avoid being a victim of auto insurance fraud. We all must work together to help cut down on this costly crime. If you think you have witnessed an insurance crime, please report it to 1-877-IBC-TIPS.

• Canadian Bankers Association – Speaker: Maura Drew-Lytle, Director of Communications
Discussing the importance of choosing the right PINs and passwords and protecting your PINs and passwords.

• Interac – Speaker: Mark Sullivan, Head of Fraud Market Management
According to Interac data, losses due to card-skimming continue to fall dramatically. While the number of Interac Debit and Interac Flash cards in market has been growing, fraud losses have been continually shrinking, thanks to such measures as chip technology and cryptography. While criminals have been finding it increasingly difficult to commit fraud in Canada, consumers should still remain vigilant when it comes to protecting their personal information.

For more information please contact Detective Constable Diane Kelly at 416-808-7312 or Diane.Kelly@torontopolice.on.ca.

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Caroline de Kloet, Corporate Communications, for Detective Gail Regan, Financial Crimes