With the Christmas and holiday season quickly approaching (and Black Friday sales just around the corner), the RCMP is reminding consumers to stay vigilant against fraud.
“Fraud never goes away, and with advances in Artificial Intelligence, scams are becoming more convincing than ever, so we need to be on our guard,” says Corporal Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer.
AI can be used in fraud by spoofing phone numbers to appear as trusted contacts, sending fake texts, creating fake accounts, using voice-cloning to mimic family members, or producing realistic DeepFake videos and audio.
To protect yourself, the RCMP and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommend steps like setting up family passwords, calling companies directly instead of trusting incoming calls, and confirming with family before sending money—especially if gift cards or cryptocurrency are requested.
Check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or RCMP Safety Page for more tips to avoid being “Grinched” this holiday season.
-with files from the RCMP
