:: Cyber Security for Seniors ::

Consumer alert: Debt reduction companies

2012-01-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

Beware of "too good to be true offers"

OTTAWA, January 10, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) today issued a Consumer Alert on debt reduction companies. FCAC is warning Canadians: Be very cautious about companies that claim they can negotiate a deal with your creditors so that you will have to pay only part of your debt. This process is often called "debt reduction," "debt settlement," "debt relief" or "debt negotiation."

Consumers who are looking for information on dealing with their debt will find tips on getting out of debt on FCAC's website at fcac.gc.ca.

About FCAC

With educational materials and interactive tools, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) provides objective information about financial products and services to help Canadians increase their financial knowledge and confidence in managing their personal finances. FCAC informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with banks and federally regulated trust, loan and insurance companies. FCAC also makes sure that federally regulated financial institutions, payment card network operators and external complaints bodies comply with legislation and industry commitments intended to protect consumers.

You can reach them through the FCAC Consumer Services Centre by calling toll-free 1-866-461-3222 (TTY: 613-947-7771 or 1-866-914-6097) or by visiting their website: fcac.gc.ca.

Pocket Dials/Unintentional 9-1-1 Calls Putting Public at Risk, Impacting Police Resources

2012-01-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Police Say Unintentional Calls from Mobile Devices a Growing Problem in Ontario

TORONTO, January 9, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Police services across Ontario are seeing an increase in pocket dialed and unintentional 9-1-1 calls, which represent a serious threat to public safety and negatively impact police resources according to the Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board (OAB) and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).

"With more and more people using mobile devices, our police services are reporting an increase in unintentional 9-1-1 calls and so-called pocket dials," said Inspector Paulo Da Silva of York Regional Police. "When unintentionally dialed calls are made to 9-1-1 call centres, they become a public safety issue and are a drain on law enforcement resources."

Pocket dials happen when a keypad on a mobile device carried in a pocket, purse, backpack, etc. is accidentally pressed. Unintentional 9-1-1 calls are generated from a mobile device and are not intended as emergency calls.

Unintentional 9-1-1 calls tie up phone lines that deliver 9-1-1 calls to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), which handle 9-1-1 calls. This negatively impacts a PSAP's ability to respond to real emergencies.

The Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board brings together police personnel to act as advocates for the 9-1-1 system in the Province of Ontario. OAB is partnering with the OACP to raise public awareness of the unintentional/pocket dialed calls.

The OAB and OACP have found that hundreds of unintentional/pocket dialed 9-1-1 calls are being received daily by police services across Ontario from cell phones and other devices where no emergency exists. For example:

...The Toronto Police Service received 1,227,791 calls to 9-1-1 in 2011. 1 in 5 calls were not valid emergencies. Pocket dials accounted for 107,748, or half of the false calls; misdialed calls to 9-1-1 (116,770) accounted for the remainder.

...York Regional Police received 97,886 unintentional 9-1-1 calls from wireless devices in 2011, accounting for 37.33% of all 9-1-1 calls received.

...London Police Service received 6,622 pocket dials from August to November, 2011, averaging 11.24% of total 9-1-1 calls.

...Peel Regional Police received 80,724 unintentional 9-1-1 calls from wireless devices between June 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2011, accounting for 33% of the 9-1-1 calls received.

For every unintentional/pocket 9-1-1 call received, a 9-1-1 emergency telecommunicator must determine whether an emergency exists. Every second counts when someone is waiting for an emergency communicator to pick up a 9-1-1 call and dispatch police, emergency medical services, or fire.

"Citizens have the power to stop unintentional 9-1-1 calls from their mobile devices. It could be as simple as locking a key pad or putting the device in stand-by mode," said Chief Matt Torigian, President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. "Such actions do not impact a user's ability to receive a phone call, but may significantly reduce the chance of a pocket dial. To further reduce the pocket dial risk, users should not program 9-1-1 into their devices and should prevent small children from playing with such devices."

Someone who places an unintentional 9-1-1 call should stay on the line. Every 9-1-1 call is taken seriously. When a 9-1-1 caller doesn't respond, that could be a sign of trouble - a possibility an emergency responder can't ignore. Users are urged to let the emergency operator know it was a pocket dial/unintentional call. This will eliminate the need for the emergency operator to call back to determine if there is a legitimate emergency, saving precious seconds and allowing them to move on to the next emergency call.

Citizens can prevent pocket dials or unintentional 9-1-1 calls by:

...Locking keypads using the keypad lock feature. Keypad locks, some of which can be programmed to activate automatically, prevent a mobile device from responding to keystrokes until the user unlocks the keypad using a short combination of key presses.

...Turn off the 9-1-1 auto-dial feature, if your mobile device has one. To determine whether a device has this feature and how to turn it off, check the user manual or the manufacturer's website, or call the service provider.

...Refrain from programming a wireless device to speed or automatically dial 9-1-1.

Simple, easy and free ways for you to create the safest passwords ever

2011-12-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, December 29, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - You will not find it under a Christmas tree or at a Boxing Week sale. It is not a Hanukkah present. But a new online password is definitely the best free gift you can give yourself according to experts at global cloud security leader Trend Micro.

"Before you take advantage of any online shopping bargains or send Season's Greetings to your Facebook friends, give yourself the gift of a strong online password. A strong password keeps personal information safe and secure—while a weak one is like leaving your front door open for anyone to wander in and rifle through your stuff," says Ian Gordon, Trend Micro Canada's marketing chief.

Mr. Gordon and his Ottawa colleagues have come up with their top tips for good passwords:

...Mix it up: Your passwords should be at least eight characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, and numbers or symbols.

...Be impersonal: Any variation of family names, pets, addresses or important dates isn't secure enough. Spelling them backwards is not safe either as it is a fairly common practice.

...Be unique: Your password should not be a common word in English or any other language. Hackers can use programs that check all words in the dictionary.

...Sequence matters: Don't pick a password that has all of the characters next to each other on a keyboard (12345 or qwerty) because they are easy to figure out.

...Change is good: At least every 90 days. If you think that someone may have gained access to your system or online accounts, change it immediately.

...No sticky notes: Don't store passwords on your computer or on a sticky note next to your screen. Keep it hidden away in a secure location.

...Think it through: If it's too easy to remember, it's probably too easy to figure out as well. You can take a phrase and use the first letters to make a password. For example, "I like to drink 3 cups of coffee" could become the password Il2d3coc.

...Misspell with purpose: It's a good idea to misspell words and add numbers in. Instead of "doghouse" try"doGhoWse219". Since this isn't a real word and it mixes in upper and lower case and numbers, it would be much more secure than the simple "doghouse" password.

...Clever is good: Another good way to come up with a password that you can remember, but is still secure, is to substitute numbers for letters that look somewhat similar. For example, the words "bell tower" can be converted to the password "B377T0w3r", which would be quite hard for anyone to figure out.

About Trend Micro: Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in Internet content security, focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. Trend Micro is advancing integrated threat management technology to protect operational continuity, personal information, and property from malware, spam, data leaks and the newest Web threats. A transnational company, with headquarters in Tokyo, and operations in 23 countries including Canada, Trend Micro's trusted security solutions are sold through its business partners worldwide.

Keeping Children Safe Online

2011-12-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

New UNICEF report reveals increased risks and best strategies to protect children online

TORONTO, December 13, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - New information on the dangers children face online and the most effective ways parents, caregivers and policy makers can make cyberspace safer are outlined in a report released by UNICEF today.

"Most Canadian children are online," says Marvin Bernstein, UNICEF Canada's Chief Advisor, Advocacy. "This report provides important strategies Canadians must seriously consider to protect children from known and emerging risks online."

The report Child Safety Online: Global challenges and strategies explains that children's online activities are becoming more private and more frequent as mobile phones overtake personal computers as the most popular way to surf the web.

Some activities like 'sexting' (text messaging or sharing sexual images online) are riskier than others. 'Sexting' is usually intended to be a private exchange between two people, but images are often shared with more people and can have devastating impacts including depression, bullying or self-harm.

Young people themselves identify cyberbullying as the most serious online threat. The report explains, cyberbullying can be particularly traumatic because of its anonymity, its capacity to intrude at any time into places that might otherwise be safe for young people and because it is often public and seen by peers.

The report also reveals there are more than 16,000 web pages worldwide depicting millions of child abuse images of tens of thousands of children. Victims are young, with 73 per cent under 10 years old and the content becoming increasingly more graphic and violent.

"Because of our expanding digital world, there are more opportunities for valuable information and education for children than ever before," says Bernstein. "But the Internet has also significantly increased the potential dangers children face. We must respond to these dangers in a balanced and measured way to ensure children are safe."

Protecting Children Online

The first line of defence in protecting children online is ensuring they receive specific, age-appropriate education. Children must understand the risks they face and make informed and responsible choices when they use digital media.

Canada is a global leader in legally protecting children from sexual exploitation both on and offline, but the report has found legislation is only part of the answer. Parents, teachers, policy makers and the private sector all have a role to play. Private companies must be vigilant in removing inappropriate materials from servers and providing child-friendly programs and privacy controls. Social service providers must also recognize the crossover between online and offline abuse and extend recovery services to all children who need them.

Finally, lawmakers must ensure legislation designed to protect children isn't actually harming them. This can be achieved through the use of early child impact assessments. For example, some laws allow for criminal charges for distributing child pornography when teens share sexual images of themselves.

The establishment of a National Children's Commissioner is also an important step in ensuring the development of a nation-wide response strategy to combat online and offline sexual exploitation, abuse and bullying.

"It is impossible to remove all risks that exist online for children," says Bernstein. "But there are many effective strategies to mitigate these risks, while respecting the rights of children and ensuring they benefit from the important opportunities evolving technology can provide."

Advice and sources of information for young people, parents, businesses and others can be found at www.unicef.ca/onlinesafety.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is the world's leading child-focused humanitarian and development agency. Through innovative programs and advocacy work, we save children's lives and secure their rights in virtually every country. Our global reach, unparalleled influence on policymakers, and diverse partnerships make us an instrumental force in shaping a world in which no child dies of a preventable cause. UNICEF is entirely supported by voluntary donations and helps all children, regardless of race, religion or politics. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.

Beware of scammers pretending to represent the CRTC

2011-12-05T10:42:00.001-08:00

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, December 5, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has been alerted that people claiming to represent the CRTC are making telephone calls to Canadians and informing them that their computers are potentially at risk. The caller then asks to remotely connect to the computer to scan for and remove any viruses.

These callers are not CRTC employees. Canadians should never grant remote access to their computers or give their passwords to someone who has called them claiming to represent a government organization.

These calls are likely phishing scams that could result in identity theft and fraud. For tips on cyber safety, please visit Get Cyber Safe http://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx.

Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission
Ottawa, Ontario

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an independent public organization that regulates and supervises the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems. www.crtc.gc.ca

Kids Who Follow House Rules Have Less Negative Experiences Online

2011-11-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

Norton Online Family Report Identifies Issues of "Cyberbaiting" and Overspending

TORONTO, November 17, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The latest edition of the Norton Online Family Report sheds new light on the realities and risks of growing up in the digital age. This year's report identifies the new issue of "cyberbaiting," a growing phenomenon where kids taunt their teachers, then capture the distressed reactions via cell phone videos. In addition, the report reveals a surprisingly high number of kids taking liberties with their parents' credit cards for shopping online. However, it's not all bad news: the report shows that following clearly stated house rules for proper Internet behavior can make a significant impact in averting negative online experiences.

Overall, almost 62 per cent of kids across the world said that they have had a negative experience while online. Nearly four in 10 (39 per cent), however, have had a serious negative experience online, such as receiving inappropriate pictures from strangers, being bullied or becoming the victim of cybercrime. The report also shows that kids who are active on social networks open up more doors for content or situations that can be tricky for them to handle: 74 per cent of kids on social networks find themselves in unpleasant situations online, compared to 38 per cent who stay away from social networking.

Parents are setting ground rules, however, for online use, which helps kids have a more positive experience. The Norton Online Family Report shows that 77 per cent of parents have rules for how their kids may use the Internet. For those households where rules exist, while the "good kids" who follow the rules stay relatively safe with 52 per cent having had a negative experience online, the percentage increases to 82 per cent among rule-breakers.

"Kids are developing their online identity at an earlier age than ever before," said Vanessa Van Petten, youthologist and author of "Radical Parenting. "They need parents, teachers and other role models to help them figure out where to go, what to say, how to act and perhaps most importantly, how not to act. Negative situations online can have repercussions in the real world—from bullying to money lost in scams to giving strangers personal information."

Teachers at Risk of Cyberbaiting

One of the more shocking examples of using social networks for bad behavior is cyberbaiting, where students first irritate or bait a teacher until he or she cracks, filming the incident on their mobile device so they can post the footage online, embarrassing the teacher and the school. One in five teachers has personally experienced or knows another teacher who has experienced this phenomenon.

Perhaps because of cyberbaiting, 67 per cent of teachers say being friends with students on social networks exposes them to risks. Still, 34 per cent continue to "friend" their students. Only 51 per cent, however, say their school has a code of conduct for how teachers and students communicate with each other through social media. Eighty per cent of teachers call for more online safety education in schools, a position supported by 70 per cent of parents.

Raiding Mom's Digital Purse

Twenty-three per cent of parents who let their kids use their debit or credit card to shop online say their kids have overspent. Thirty per cent of parents, however, say that their child has used their debit or credit card to shop online without consent. And more than half of parents (53 per cent) who let their kids shop online using their online store account reported that their child has used it without permission.

But saving money isn't the only reason to set clear guidelines about online shopping and safe Internet behaviors. Eighty-seven percent of parents whose children have been the victim of cybercrime have also been a victim themselves—a steep increase from the global average of 69 per cent among online adults across the world. (Norton Cybercrime Report, 2011)

In Canada: The Breakdown

...69 per cent of Canadian adults surveyed have fallen victim to cybercrime and 37 per cent of children reported being victims as well

...68 per cent of children in Canada said that they have had a negative experience online

...88 per cent of teachers reported that being friends with students on social networks exposes them to online risks

...Only six per cent of Canadian teachers are friends with students on social networks, compared to 34 per cent globally

...Eight per cent of teachers have personally experienced or know another teacher who has been cyberbaited

...71 per cent of teachers call for more online safety education in schools, a position supported by 68 per cent of parents

...Only five per cent of parents in Canada say they have no idea what their children do online, but 17 per cent of children in Canada think their parents are clueless and have no idea about their online activities

...32 per cent of parents suspect their child changes the way they act online when parents are watching them - and 41 per cent of children said they sometimes stop what they are doing online if they know their parents are watching

"Teachers spend almost a third of the day with our children, and play an integral role in helping parents understand children's behaviours, so it was really important for us to gauge their thoughts on cyber safety, and their perceptions of children's online behaviours ," said Lynn Hargrove, director of Consumer Solutions for Symantec Canada. "This report helps paint a picture of what's really happening online, so that we can recognize and address the shortcomings to keep our children safe from potential online dangers. At Norton, we believe that education is a huge part of prevention. We'll continue to do our part and make resources available to educate children, teachers and parents so that they can stay informed about the latest cyber dangers."

For more tips on how to keep your kids and yourself safe online, please visit: ca.norton.com/familyresources. For more findings from the Norton Online Family Report globally and by country, please visit: www.norton.com/cybercrimereport.

Symantec's Norton products protect consumers from cybercrime with technologies like antivirus, anti-spyware and phishing protection -- while also being light on system resources. The company also provides services such as online backup, PC tuneup, and family online safety. Like Norton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/norton and follow @NortonOnline on Twitter.

About Symantec

Symantec's Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. For more information on Symantec products or current promotions, access Symantec's Canadian Web site at www.symantec.ca. Symantec is an active member of the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

About the Norton Online Family Report methodology

Between February 6, 2011 and March 14, 2011 StrategyOne conducted 19,636 online survey among 12,704 adults (including 2956 parents of children aged 8-7), 4553 children aged 8-17, and 2379 teachers of students aged 8-17.

The survey was conducted in 24 countries (14 tracking countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States; 10 new countries: Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Africa, Singapore, Poland, Switzerland and UAE). The global data has been weighted to ensure all countries have equal representation. Adults to n500 (n100 parents), children to n200, teachers to n100.

SecureKey Technologies Inc. to power the Government of Canada's new online authentication service

2011-11-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Use of bank-issued credentials from TD Bank Group, Scotiabank and BMO Financial Group will enable secure, convenient access to online government services

TORONTO, November 7, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Toronto based SecureKey Technologies Inc. today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Government of Canada to provide an innovative Credential Broker Service (CBS) that will allow Canadians to use their bank authentication credentials to obtain access to online government services. To ensure privacy protection, users of the CBS will authenticate through their bank but neither their login credentials nor the identity of their bank will be shared with the Government of Canada. Similarly, no information about the government service being accessed by the user will be shared with the user's bank.

The new service is part of the Government of Canada's Cyber Authentication Renewal initiative and leverages SecureKey's authentication solutions, which enable banks, credit card issuers, governments and healthcare providers to extend the security capabilities of chip-based payment and identity cards to their mobile and online offerings.

"We are thrilled to have been selected, through a competitive process, by the Government of Canada to provide this unique service", said SecureKey Technologies Inc, CEO Greg Wolfond, "This partnership between government and industry lays the foundation for an ecosystem that will offer increased choice and ease of use for consumers and businesses accessing secure online services."

Management of security credentials is a constant challenge for online government services which are used periodically, as website-specific user ID's and passwords are often forgotten. SecureKey's new authentication service will allow consumers to access government services using their online banking login credentials or, if offered by their bank, by tapping their bank-issued chip card on one of SecureKey's easy-to-use USB card readers or, in future, on a SecureKey-enabled laptop or mobile device.

To provide consumer choice and broad national coverage for the launch of the service, three of Canada's largest banks, BMO Financial Group, TD Bank Group and Scotiabank have been selected as the inaugural credential providers. These banks offer unparalleled authentication capabilities that will make customer access to online government services much easier.

"We are pleased to be able to offer our customers safe, secure and convenient online access to government programs and services," said Mike Henry, Scotiabank's Senior Vice-President and Head of Canadian Retail Payments, Deposits and Lending. "So many websites require login information, making it easy to forget a few every now and then. With this service, our customers won't have to worry about remembering another user ID and password because they will be able to easily access government services online using what they already use with us. This will give them the peace of mind that their personal information is securely protected."

"BMO sees this as a natural extension of services we offer to our customers. Our participation gives customers a secure, simple, and trusted verification process for accessing government sites and also levers the investments we have already made in chip and contactless technology to create a safe & sound environment for banking and payments," said Mike Kitchen, SVP, P&C Products, BMO Bank of Montreal.

"SecureKey's credential service will offer our customers a powerful combination of security and convenience when accessing their government accounts online," said Paal Kaperdal, SVP, Online Banking, TD Bank Group. "This is an innovative approach by both government and industry to improve an essential service for Canadians, and another way that TD can fulfill our promise of delivering a more comfortable banking experience to our customers."

The CBS will go live in 2012 and will be made available to all Government of Canada Departments and Agencies.

About SecureKey Technologies Inc.

SecureKey develops innovative hardware and software solutions that extend the power of chip-based identity and payment credentials to online and mobile transactions. With SecureKey, financial institutions, health care providers and government organizations can offer their online customers the convenience and security of ' tap to authenticate' and 'tap to pay' services. SecureKey is a privately held company with offices in Toronto, Ontario.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO) is a highly diversified financial services organization. With total assets of CDN$477 billion as at July 31, 2011, and more than 47,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $567 billion (as at July 31, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

About TD Bank Group

The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (TD). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves more than 20 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust, TD Insurance and TD Auto Finance Canada; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank and TD Auto Finance U.S.; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 7 million online customers. TD had CDN$665 billion in assets on July 31, 2011. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

CRIME PREVENTION WEEK: "Crime Prevention through Innovation and Technology"

2011-11-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

Crime Prevention… It's everyone's business.

ORILLIA, Ontario, November 6, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - With Crime prevention Week underway (November 6 - 12, 2011) the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) recognizes the need to utilize technology in its delivery of innovative crime prevention strategies to help engage communities in the prevention of crime.

Public awareness and education initiatives such as the OPP Crime Prevention Section's multi-media and interactive Internet site, the strategic use of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are excellent examples of innovation and technology tools the OPP uses to assist in crime prevention.

The OPP also provides a variety of school-based and community-based programs designed to provide awareness and prevention tips for safe cyber experiences for children. With more than 94 per cent of children accessing the Internet at home, technology and innovation are paramount to effectively addressing current Internet issues for kids such as netiquette, cyberbullying, security, privacy, risqué texting and gaming.

Internet Exploitation & Threats Prevention is one of a number of important objectives carried out by the OPP Youth Issues Unit and the OPP recently teamed up with the Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (Ophea) to launch Connect[ED]; Real Life Online, an important new program that educates students, teachers and parents about Internet safety.

Through innovation and technology, by educating communities and being proactive in the reduction of crime, the OPP remains dedicated to eliminating the opportunity for crime in support of the OPP's vision of Safe communities - A Secure Ontario.

LEARN MORE

Community Issues: http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=148

Crime Prevention: http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=47

OPP Facebook, Twitter and YouTube websites: www.opp.ca

Connect[ED] Program: http://www.ophea.net/programs-services/more-resources/connected

For more information on Crime Prevention Week please contact your local OPP Detachment.

Who Commits Identity Theft?

2011-10-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

From Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
by Dick Eastman

I have written before a number of times about identity theft as well as the safety of using credit cards for online purchases. Now authorities have busted what is believed to be the biggest identity theft ring in U.S. history: a credit-card-stealing organization that stole more than $US13 million in less than a year-and-a-half.

So who were these thieves? Were they hardened criminals or computer hackers, experienced in theft? Apparently not. In fact, almost all of the 111 people charged were bank tellers, retail workers, and waiters, the very people we trust every day with our credit cards in person.

Of the $13 million stolen, almost none of it occurred in online transactions. Almost all the thefts came from old-fashioned uses of credit cards: handing a card to a waiter or store clerk or bank employee.

There is an old fallacy that claims using credit cards online is dangerous. The recent news now proves the opposite: online use of credit cards is now much safer than using credit cards in person in a restaurant, store, or bank. Most thieves steal credit card numbers from in-person use, not from online transactions.

Online credit card transactions with VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, or American Express are always insured in the U.S., so no one would have lost money even if the theft had occurred from online use.

You can read more in an online article by Robert McMillan of IDG News Service available here

Cybert Smarts

2011-09-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

GUELPH, Ontario September 29, 2011 - Grade 12 students from St. James Catholic High School teamed up with older adults from Guelph Ontario to raise awareness of cybercrime.

With the support of the Retired Teachers of Ontario, this intergenerational team created a flash mob event at a local mall and produced this short video.

The effort included help from Guelph Police Services, Trellis Mental Health and Developmental Services and the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association.

Cyber Risks and Consequences - What Canadians Need to Know

2011-09-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA, September 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians know far more about how to use digital technologies than about how to protect themselves and others from vulnerabilities created by those technologies. To counter the growing range of cyber threats, this gap in knowledge and awareness needs to be closed, says a Conference Board of Canada report, It's All About You: Building Capacity in Cyber Security.

"As individuals, we fail to make good cyber-risk decisions because we lack a thorough understanding of how we are vulnerable and what could happen as a result. We therefore do not participate effectively in what should be a "whole-of-nation effort" to counter threats to people, organizations and the country," said John Neily, Director, National Security and Public Safety.

The report finds that knowledge and awareness gap exists at three levels:

...Scope - Cyber threats exist at the national, organizational and individual levels. Most users pay attention only to threats that affect them directly, such as spam and viruses. But governments and businesses must contend with threats to digital infrastructure stemming from intentional sabotage, human error, accidents, and natural events. They also must deal with the risks of online crime, espionage and (military or ideological) conflict.

...Technology - When the internet was designed, security was not one of the priorities. Digital technology makes it too easy for cyber-criminals, cyber-spies, and cyber-activists to harm businesses and challenge the power of governments.

...People - Individuals represent the greatest vulnerability to digital security, but they also are indispensible in making cyberspace more secure. People must become more aware of threats and their potential consequences. However, it has been difficult to date to motivate the average user to take cyber threats seriously.

Leaders in both the private sector and government - both of which have made major investments in digital infrastructure —need to deepen their knowledge of the potential threats, so they can improve the effectiveness of cyber security policies, programs, and technologies. In addition, enhancing the digital skills and literacy of Canadian users and improving the guidance parents, teachers, and peers give to young people concerning the use of digital technologies should be a priority.

The report, which is available from the Conference Board of Canada's e-library, ( http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/default.aspx) was produced with the support of the Centre for National Security. The Centre provides a trusted forum for public and private sector organizations to engage with each other on the critical issues affecting Canada's national security today and in the future.

Recalled Acer Aspire notebooks can short circuit and overheat posing a burn hazard to consumers

2011-09-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

September 16, 2011 - from Health & Safety Watch

The Electrical Safety Authority reports of a recall involving the Aspire notebook computer by Acer America Corporation. An internal microphone wire under the palm rest can short circuit and overheat. This poses a potential burn hazard to consumers.

Acer - Aspire notebook computer

Size/Packaging:
262

Model Numbers
AS3810T-8097
AS3810T-6197
AS2810-4630
AS3810TZ-4000

Two incidents were reported in Singapore and one reported in Taiwan.

Recalled notebooks were sold by Asia Link Computer Inc., Best Buy Canada Ltd., D&H Canada ULC, IBM Canada Ltd. (Supercom), Ingram Micro Inc., Intertan Canada Ltd., Pro Data, Inc., Synnex-EMJ Canada Ltd., and Tech Data Canada Corp. prior to September 15, 2009.

Corrective Action:

Consumers should stop using the recalled notebook computers immediately and contact Acer to determine if their notebook is affected and to receive a free repair.

Consumer Contact:

For additional information, contact Acer toll-free at (866) 695-2237 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.acer.com.

Staying safe in a wired world

2011-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

Innovative new resource educates kids about being safe and healthy online

TORONTO, September 13, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Kids are becoming increasingly connected through the Internet, and issues with netiquette, cyberbullying and security and privacy are emerging at younger and younger ages. This fall, Ophea is launching Connect[ED]: www.reallifeonline.ca, a free online resource on Internet safety for students in Grades 4-6.

"Over 94% of Canadian children access the Internet at home. Our goal is to help these students examine and develop their own online practices and behaviours in the same way they would in real life situations," says Heather Gardner, Curriculum Consultant at Ophea. "This resource will help children apply real life behaviour to life online."

Children need to be educated about safe online practices, educators need support staying up-to-date with the online activities of students, and parents need greater knowledge of the world online to be equipped to deal with issues that may arise.

Developed with these needs in mind, this web-based resource (also available on DVD) teaches students in Grade 4, 5 and 6 how to be safer in an ever-changing world of technology. Connect[ED] engages kids in a fun and interactive way through video episodes and related activities. It provides educators and parents with the tools they need to comfortably and effectively protect their students and children during daily online activities.

The resource will be delivered to schools across Ontario in September and is also available online. Ophea, Kids Help Phone, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Education are delivering seven regional training sessions on the resource to ensure that teachers are supported in educating their students about Internet safety.

Connect[ED]: Real Life Online was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education as part of their commitment to ensure that every Ontario public school student is educated in Internet safety. The resource was developed in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police, Kids Help Phone, University of Toronto Faculty of Social Work, University of Ontario Institute of Technology and TVOKids. For more information and to access the resource, visit www.reallifeonline.ca

Ophea is a not-for-profit organization led by the vision that all kids value, participate in, and make a lifelong commitment to healthy active living. Since 1921, Ophea has been working in partnership with school boards, public health, government, non-government organizations, and private sector companies to support the health and learning of children and youth through the provision of programs and services that support healthy schools and healthy communities. To learn more, visit www.ophea.net

Warning: Telemarketing/Automated Telephone Scheme

2011-08-04T05:19:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, August 3, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Whether by telephone, mail or email, Canadians continue to be targeted by schemes trying to incent and persuade un-expecting consumers into sharing personal information, financial and even health data for purposes which they never agreed to. Unfortunately, this results in thousands of victims of these schemes each year.

As a member of the Competition Bureau of Canada's Fraud Prevention Forum, the AIR MILES Reward Program supports the Bureau's broad-based "Recognize it, Report it and Stop it!" fraud prevention efforts.

Recent information of AIR MILES Collectors receiving telephone calls from unknown organizations informing consumers that they have won a prize consisting of between 10,000 and 100,000 reward miles have been reported to the Program. Unsuspecting Collectors are then prompted to press "1" and are subsequently transferred to an operator who asks for personal and credit card information.

This is not an AIR MILES initiative. The Program does not use an automated message to notify Collectors they have won reward miles.

Canadians must take appropriate precautions to protect their personal information to avoid such schemes. Consumers are urged to protect themselves by never sharing personal information or account information with anyone who should not have access to it.

Any suspicious telephone call when personal information is asked for should be reported immediately to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.

More information is also available at: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

About the AIR MILES Reward Program:

Founded in 1992, the AIR MILES Reward Program is Canada's premier coalition loyalty program. More than 10 million active Collector accounts, representing approximately two-thirds of all Canadian households, actively participate in the Program. The AIR MILES Reward Program allows Collectors to indulge in leisure, entertainment, merchandise, travel and other lifestyle rewards quickly, simply by doing their everyday shopping for products and services at AIR MILES Sponsors. AIR MILES reward miles can be redeemed for more than 1,000 different rewards, family attractions, electronic merchandise, sports and recreation, travel and more.

Online Safety Expert Says Shredding Can Minimize The Risk Of Identity Theft

2011-07-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Destroying old financial documents such as bank statements, brokerage statements and bills is very important as identity thieves can use these documents harm you.

Online PR News – July 19, 2011 – Destroying old financial documents such as bank statements, brokerage statements and bills is very important as identity thieves can use these documents harm you.

These documents contain vital information that a criminal will try to gain access to in order to steal a person's identity.

Says reporter Neysa Wilkins:

"All of your old bills and bank statements can be the keys any thief needs to steal your identity. Paper documents are the main source of material for identity theft crimes. It not only costs you money, but time.

The average victim spends about 300 hours trying to repair credit damage.

Karen Szulczewski of the Better Business Bureau says, I've heard of cases taking up to 55-hundred hours which is the equivalent of a full time job for several years.

Most people make it easy for the thieves, throwing important documents in the trash.

Szulczewski says "It sounds very unglamorous but dumpster diving is still a very easy way for people to steal your identity especially around the first of the month when everybody's paying their bills."

There's also a wealth of information sitting in your mail box.

People will drive through neighborhoods looking for the red flags sticking up so they can take information out of the mailboxes.. those pre-approved credit card offers and other things with sensitive information that are sitting in your mailbox while you're at work.

Financial ruin may not be the only consequence of identity theft.

You could wind-up with a criminal record, courtesy of the identity thief.

"If I have a criminal record, I may want to pretend to be somebody else If I get arrested again because the sentencing may be less I may be able to bond out and then I can skip town and the person whose identity I've stolen doesn't know it until all of the sudden there's a warrant out for their arrest for something they didn't do.

One of the best ways to prevent i-d theft is to reduce the thieves' opportunities."...

A shredder should be in every home and kept in close proximity to where mail is opened. This should make it very easy to develop a routine of consistently shredding old financial documents.

http://howsafeareyou.org outlines key action steps that a consumer must take to safeguard themselves from fraud protection. says founder Michael Roberts "shredding documents is very important and reduces a person's exposure to having their identity stolen. Thieves need access to your information and destroying old statements and bills is crucial... read more story at Online PR News

To learn more about identity theft protection visit the following page of the site:

http://howsafeareyou.org

Google boosts Gmail's anti-phishing feature

2011-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Web email service automatically shows sender's address to combat fake messages

from Computer World
By Gregg Keizer

Computerworld, June 30, 2011 - Google this week added an anti-phishing feature to Gmail that automatically displays the sender's address for some messages.

The move is designed to help users spot suspicious messages that try to dupe people into divulging their Gmail log-in credentials or other personal information.

Starting Tuesday, Gmail began showing the sender's email address on all messages from people the recipient had either not sent mail to or were not in his contact list. Additionally, messages sent via a third-party firm -- such as an email marketing bulk mailer, which are often used by retailers to blast out deals -- now automatically display the sending address.

"If someone fakes a message from a sender that you trust, like your bank, you can more easily see that the message is not really from where it says it's from," said Google software engineer Ela Iwaszkiewicz in a post to the company's Gmail blog on Tuesday.

Previously, Gmail users could expose the sender's address by manually clicking on a "show details" link in the email service's interface... read more story at ComputerWorld.com

Avoid getting burned by scams this summer: apply Visa security tips

2011-06-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, June 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - With the Canada Day long weekend in sight, Visa is offering consumers tips on how to protect themselves from card fraud when travelling this summer. The website www.VisaSecuritySense.ca provides helpful information for cardholders on how to protect their account information and resolve unauthorized card use.

"Visa cardholders can be confident in the security of their cards, whether they are at home or away," said Gord Jamieson, Head of Payment System Risk, Visa Canada. "However, card security is a shared responsibility so it's a good idea for cardholders to learn how to protect their cards."

While enjoying summer vacations at home or abroad, it's important to know that Canadian Visa card issuers provide important consumer protections including fraud liability protection and dispute resolution. Savvy consumers can visit www.VisaSecuritySense.ca to find out more about Visa's security features and how to better protect themselves from the inconvenience of unauthorized card use while travelling.

"By spending a few moments building card security into their travel plans, Canadians can enjoy even greater peace of mind as they head out to enjoy their summer vacations," added Jamieson.

VisaSecuritySense.caoffers consumers the following tips when travelling:

...If travelling outside Canada, make sure you call to inform the financial institution that issued your card which countries you will be visiting, and for how long.

...Check your cards - know your expiry dates, account balance and amount of credit available to you, so you won't be caught short with a card that expires while you're away, or not have enough credit to cover your trip expenses.

...Keep a copy of your financial institution's customer service phone numbers, and your Visa account number in a convenient place - separate from your card. Toll-free numbers may not work internationally. If you don't have your financial institution issuer's direct number, you can call Visa's help line collect at 1-303-967-1096 or 410-581-3836.

...Report lost or stolen cards and/or unauthorized transactions to your financial institution issuer immediately.

...Limit the number of payment cards and other personal information that you carry in your wallet or purse while travelling.

...Be aware of your surroundings when entering your Personal Identification Number (PIN) at an ABM or at the checkout.

As always, save and check all receipts against your statement.

Cardholders can also turn to www.VisaSecuritySense.cafor news about fraud scams, access helpful resources or find help to resolve problems.

About Visa

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world's most advanced processing networks—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 20,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

Keep your identity safe this summer vacation

2011-06-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

Use these 5 tips from ProtectionPower.ca and protect yourself from identity theft while travelling

BURLINGTON, Ontario, June 22, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Finally, summer vacation is just around the corner! Before you kick back and relax fully, take a few minutes to ensure you are properly protecting your most important documents.

ProtectionPower.ca, Canada's leading identity theft protection service, has a few hints to help you along the way.

"Travellers are obvious targets for identity thieves and other criminals," says identity theft expert Sylvain Patry, senior vice-president of ProtectionPower.ca. "When you're on holiday, you're relaxed, you're in an unfamiliar place - and you're vulnerable. Don't let a pickpocket or a lost wallet ruin a great summer vacation."

Follow these 5 tips from ProtectionPower.ca and stay safe:

...Travel light! Only bring identification and cards with you that you need. If you're travelling within Canada, you can leave your passport safely at home. If you're heading abroad, you likely don't need all of your store cards.

...Make copies. Before you depart, scan, photocopy or photograph the identification you will be travelling with. Write down your passport, credit card and other important numbers. Leave these copies in a secure place in your home. Make sure someone you trust knows how to access them - just in case.

...Never carry all your identification in one place. For example, do not keep your passport and your driver's licence in the same wallet or purse. Losing (or being robbed of) one piece of identification is inconvenient; losing all of it could make it difficult for you to prove you are who you say you are.

...Use the small lockers or safes that are in many hotel rooms. These can allow you to secure, and separate, your identification. When you're heading out for a day tour in a new city, you might choose to keep your driver's licence with you - and leave your health card and your passport in the hotel.

...Keep in touch. Regularly update a trusted family member or friend back home on your whereabouts. Try to do this every day or so via email, chat, phone, Skype or a private Facebook message (do not do this publicly on Facebook or other social media!). If something happens to you, it's good to know someone will notice, quickly.

Watch for Identity Theft Expert Sylvain Patry on your local media station! Patry comments on the very real issues brought forward in UNKNOWN (released June 21 on Blu-Ray and DVD by Warner Home Entertainment Group). The hit film stars Liam Neeson as Dr. Martin Harris, a man fighting desperately to reclaim his identity in a foreign city.

For more tools and resources to help you protect yourself from identity theft, visit ProtectionPower.ca.

About ProtectionPower.ca

Protection Power is a leading Canadian provider of advanced identity protection services and educational resources. Founded by a team of security experts with a background in credit/financial services and technology, Protection Power provides features and experience to help you stay in control of your financial life.

Skype's Take on Vishing (Voice Phishing)

2011-06-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

from Skype Security

June 10, 2011 - Skype is aware of so-called 'vishing' (or voice phishing) attacks, where a recorded call is made to a person to try and coax them to do something, like share personal information via phone or visit a Web site to download malicious software disguised as security updates.

As with any form of communication today, users should be vigilant and responsible at all times and be wary of any suspicious activity.

Our advice is similar to answering a call on your mobile from unknown parties that you don't recognize: either don't answer and certainly don't follow any instructions from unknown parties, much as you wouldn't click on or visit unknown URLs or download attachments that seem suspicious... read more story at Skype

Google remedial measures address privacy deficiencies, Privacy Commissioner says

2011-06-06T12:03:00.000-07:00

Privacy Commissioner satisfied with Google's response to her Office's investigation into the company's inappropriate collection of personal information from unsecured wireless networks across Canada, but plans further follow-up.

OTTAWA, June 6, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - An investigation that revealed Google Inc. lacked proper controls to protect personal information has led to a commitment by the company to implement remedial measures that will reduce the risk of future privacy violations, says Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart.

"Google appears to be well on the way to resolving serious shortcomings in the way in which it addresses privacy issues," says Commissioner Stoddart. "However, given the significance of the problems we found during our investigation, we will continue to monitor how Google implements our recommendations."

The Privacy Commissioner has requested that Google undergo an independent, third-party audit of its privacy programs within a year and share the results with her Office. An audit will help measure the effectiveness of Google's proposed measures vis-à-vis its overall privacy compliance regime.

This is the first time the Commissioner has asked a company to undergo an independent audit. In order to strengthen accountability going forward, organizations may, in appropriate cases, be asked to file independent, third-party reports attesting to the fact that they have lived up to their commitments and have complied with the Commissioner's recommendations.

"Google is a world leader in innovation and, by its own admission, it pursues ideas which push the limits of social norms and technologies. As such, the company has an added responsibility to ensure that privacy protection gets the attention it deserves. Unfortunately, past history suggests that has not been the case until now," she says.

The Privacy Commissioner initiated an investigation under the federal private-sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA, after Google admitted that its cars - which were photographing neighbourhoods for its Street View map service - had collected data transmitted over unprotected wireless networks installed in homes and businesses around the globe. It's likely that thousands of Canadians were affected.

The personal information collected included complete e-mails, e-mail addresses, usernames and passwords, names, home telephone numbers and addresses, and even the names of people suffering from certain medical conditions.

The investigation concluded that the incident was largely a result of Google's lack of proper privacy policies and procedures.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner issued its findings and recommendations in October 2010 and asked for a response by February 2011. Google responded and subsequently provided clarification of certain issues at the request of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

The Privacy Commissioner is now satisfied with the measures that Google has agreed to implement, including:

...Significantly augmenting privacy and security training provided to all employees;

...Implementing a system for tracking all projects that collect, use or store personal information and for holding the engineers and managers responsible for those projects accountable for privacy;

...Requiring engineering project leaders to draft, maintain, submit and update Privacy Design Documents for all projects in order to help ensure engineering and product teams assess the privacy impact of their products and services from inception through launch;

...Assigning an internal audit team to conduct periodic audits to verify the completion of selected Privacy Design Documents and their review by the appropriate managers; and

...Piloting a review process whereby members of Google's Privacy Engineering, Product Counsel and Privacy Counsel teams review proposals involving location-based data, as well as the software programs that are to be used for the collection of data.

Additionally, Google has advised that it has begun to delete the data it collected in Canada. This process has been complicated by various rules and regulations that the company is subject to under Canadian and U.S. laws. The company has stated that, until such time as the data can be fully destroyed, it will remain secured and will not be used.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner will follow up with Google next year to gauge full implementation of its recommendations. At that time, the Privacy Commissioner will determine whether and how best to pursue the matter in accordance with her authorities under the Act.

The Report of Findings and a Backgrounder on the Google investigation is available on the Privacy Commissioner's website, www.priv.gc.ca.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman and guardian of privacy in Canada. The Commissioner enforces two pieces of federal legislation: the Privacy Act, which applies to the federal public sector; and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which applies to commercial activities in all provinces, except British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, which have enacted substantially similar legislation.

World Health Organization labels wireless "Possible Carcinogen"

2011-06-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister of Canada urged to protect Canadians

TORONTO, June 1, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Starting yesterday, microwave radiation from cell phones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi, smart meters and other wireless consumer devices and infrastructure is officially labeled by the World Health Organization to be a Possible Carcinogen, in the same category as Lead and DDT.

The Wireless Radiation Safety Council calls on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to exercise the strength of his new majority government and act swiftly to protect Canada's children, as is happening elsewhere in accordance with the May 27, 2011 resolution of the Council of Europe.

Further, we urge the Prime Minister to quickly call a meeting with all provincial Premiers and Territorial Leaders to develop a framework to safeguard the health of Canadians under provincial jurisdictions of public health, labour, and education.

In light of the reclassification of emissions from wireless devices as possible carcinogens, the Prime Minister must now require Health Canada and Industry Canada to review existing standards for cell phones and all wireless consumer devices, especially those exposing pregnant women, children and youth. These include: wireless toys; baby monitors; as well as Wi-Fi and other sources in schools, daycares, and all locations where pregnant women, children and youth are exposed, including colleges and universities. We also call on the Prime Minister to urgently adopt widespread and ongoing awareness campaigns for family doctors, parents, employers and all Canadians.

The Wireless Radiation Safety Council represents more than two-dozen local and provincial organizations across Canada, lobbying for change in national wireless radiation safety standards.

Skimming - What Does It Mean?

2011-05-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

from Investopedia. com

What Does Skimming Mean?

An electronic method of capturing a victim's personal information used by identity thieves. The skimmer is a small device that scans a credit card and stores the information contained in the magnetic strip. Skimming can take place during a legitimate transaction at a business.

Investopedia explains Skimming

Skimming can occur easily in a restaurant because your card is taken away when the bill is being settled. If your server is a skimming identity thief, he or she will, before giving the card back to you, scan the credit card with a hand-held electronic device, which takes only seconds. The electronically captured information is then used to by the thief or sold to other criminals.

10 Ways to Spot a Charity Scam

2011-05-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

from Criminal Justice USA May 18, 2011

Donating to a charity is one of the most generous gifts a person can give, but it’s important to make sure that your good intentions are not wasted on one of the many charity scams circulating the country. Here are 10 ways to spot a charity scam:

1. Refuses to Provide Important Documentation: If a charity refuses to provide tangible documentation of its identity, mission, costs and how the donation will be used, you’re most likely dealing with a charity scam. All charities should have a name, contact person, phone number and address in which they can be reached.

2. Doesn’t Provide Proof of Tax-Deductible Contribution: Charities that cannot provide the paperwork needed to claim a contribution is tax deductible, may reveal themselves as a charity scam. In order to claim a tax deduction for your monetary donation, you need to have written confirmation from the charity that includes: the charity’s name, date of contribution and donation amount. Just like you need a receipt to return an item, you need these documents to get a tax deduction...read more story at Criminal Justice USA

Fines needed to help stem growing data breaches, Privacy Commissioner says

2011-05-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Trends suggest it's time for Parliament to pass legislation that would impose fines on companies when poor privacy and security measures lead to significant data breaches.

STRATFORD, Ontario, May 4, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - An alarming trend of ever-bigger data breaches is prompting Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart to call for substantial fines against major corporations that fail to adequately protect Canadians' personal information from preventable breaches.

"I am deeply troubled by the large number of major breaches we are seeing, including serious incidents in recent weeks that have affected hundreds of thousands of Canadians," says Commissioner Stoddart.

During a speech today at the Canada 3.0 forum in Stratford, Ontario, the Commissioner stated: "Too many companies are collecting more personal information than they are able to effectively protect…. It seems to me that it's time to begin imposing fines - significant, attention-getting fines - on companies when poor privacy and security practices lead to breaches.''

Before the federal election campaign, the Canadian Parliament was considering legislation to create a requirement for private-sector organizations to report significant data breaches to the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals.

Commissioner Stoddart said the new session of Parliament creates the opportunity to strengthen the legislation to give the Privacy Commissioner the power to impose substantial fines in appropriate cases.

"I have come to the conclusion that the only way to get some corporations to pay adequate attention to their privacy obligations is by introducing the potential for large fines that would serve as an incentive for compliance," she said, noting that her counterparts in a number of other countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Spain, have already moved to impose hefty fines following breaches.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman and guardian of privacy in Canada.

Be CyberSmart! Don't Get Caught

2011-05-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

A CyberSmart Event in Guelph, Ontario on

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

at the Old Quebec Street Mall
~ 10 am - 2 pm ~

Learn to : PROTECT YOU and YOUR FAMILY FROM COMPUTER
& IDENTITY THEFT

Bring : DOCUMENTS FOR SHREDDING

WIN A SHREDDER!!!

Brought to you by The Cybersmart Coalition - St. James CHS Students, Concerned Older Adults, Trellis and Guelph Police Service

CIRA releases report on the future of the Internet in Canada

2011-05-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA, May 4, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) released a report on the findings from its national consultation on how the Internet is run.

The Canadian Internet Forum (CIF) was a national consultation hosted by CIRA, along with its partners, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Media Awareness Network (MNet). It consisted of face-to-face consultations that took place across Canada along with input received from an online discussion forum, and culminated at a national event held in Ottawa and webcast across the country in February 2011.

The consultations were broadly themed under two topics: the digital economy and digital literacy, and Canadians identified numerous issues that are important to them. These issues included online safety and security, the development of a 'Canadian vision' for the Internet and the cost and speed of broadband.

The report will be presented to the United Nations coordinated Internet Governance Forum ( www.intgovforum.org), a venue for nations to discuss the future of the Internet.

The report is available here.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is the organization that manages Canada's .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada's Internet community and represents the .CA registry internationally.

RCMP and CBSA seize $917,000.00 in Counterfeit Money Orders and Fake IDs!

2011-04-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

FRAUD - Recognize it, Report it, Stop it!

TORONTO, April 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team (ICET), in conjunction with its partner agency the Canada Border Services Agency, seized $917,000.00 worth of fraudulent Canadian money orders and multiple falsified identities following the execution of a search warrant on a Sherobee Road apartment in Mississauga on Friday.

Insp. Rick Whattam of the RCMP Commercial Crime Section in Toronto credits the CBSA for their expedient sharing of information which allowed the RCMP ICET unit to follow the fraudulent money orders to their intended recipient who was subsequently arrested and charged.

Fraudulent money orders of this nature are often used as part of an advance fee mass marketing fraud scheme to victimize unsuspecting Canadians who are asked to pay a portion of the value of the money order (as an "advance fee") back to the fraudster - only to discover later that the money order is worthless. In most cases, the advance fees paid by the victims are non-recoverable because a third-party financial transfer company had been used to facilitate these crimes.

The RCMP reminds Canadians to be vigilant when approached with "too good to be true" opportunities. Specifically, the RCMP warns Canadians to be wary of employment offers, advance fee transactions, and marketing pitches (many conducted over the Internet) in which cheques/money orders are advanced with instructions to cash them and return some portion of their value.

Charged with fraud over $5,000.00, possession of forged documents, and possession of false identity information is Maxwell Asante (age 26) of Mississauga, Ontario. Asante is scheduled to attend Brampton Court on April 28, 2011.

The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (formerly Phonebusters) is the national fraud reporting centre where people can report fraud complaints. This centre, jointly operated by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Competition Bureau of Canada, supports law enforcement in investigations and assists members of the public in fraud prevention education. If you suspect you are a victim of this fraud or a similar fraud, you may contact the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or report it on-line at www.recol.ca.

9 People Arrested for ATM Skimming

2011-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

WHITBY, Ontario, April 20, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Nine people have been arrested following a 2 month investigation into an organized crime group compromising payment cards at Automated Banking Machines (ABM) across Southern Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) Identity Crimes Unit (ICU), assisted by the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), York Regional Police Service (YRPS), Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), OPP Highway Safety Division, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and OCEB Assets Forfeiture Unit concluded a two month investigation into an organized crime group of Eastern European individuals who were involved in the tampering of Automated Banking Machines (ABM) in order to skim payment card data across Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia with some occurrences reported in Nova Scotia. These individuals attach devices to ABM's that enable the capture of debit card data and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) during the legitimate use of banking products by unsuspecting victims. The devices are left in place from one to two hours and then the skimmed data is encoded onto other plastic cards to be used by the perpetrators to access victims' accounts with out their knowledge.

This group is responsible for over 300 tampers which have resulted in losses to victims of approximately two million dollars since September of 2010.

On April 19, 2011, investigators executed 8 search warrants and affected 9 arrests in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Toronto and St. Catherines. Police seized 3 vehicles as offence related property and seized ABM overlays, forged payment cards, property obtained by crime, cocaine and a quantity of cash. ABM overlays are devices placed on machines in order to capture payment card data and customer Personal Identification Numbers.

Charged in relation to this investigation are:

Robert DESLIPPE , male, 30 years old of St Catherines is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Arthur CAMPBELL, male, 32 years old of St Catherines is charged with Fraud Under $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Valentin MOLDOVAN, male, 21 years old of Richmond Hill is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Radu OPREA, male, 33 years old of no fixed address is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Laura IOANA, female, 24 years old of Vaughan is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Ioan Florin TANASA, male, 35 years old of no fixed address is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Paul GALATAN, male, 25 years old of no fixed address is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

Dragos Catalin NEACSY, male, 33 years old of no fixed address is charged with Possession of Cocaine

Christian IOANA, male, 27 years old of no fixed address is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Possession of Instrument for use in forging credit cards, Possession and Use of Credit Card Data, Laundering Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Participation in a Criminal organization, Theft of Credit Card Data and Purposely Possess Identification Information.

The accused were held for bail hearings at the Durham Region Court house located at 150 Bond Street East in Oshawa.

Detective Sergeant Doug Cousens of the Identity Crimes Unit states, "this is another example of the integrated efforts of police agencies working together to identify and capture those individuals responsible for this emerging crime trend. Identity theft costs Canadians hundreds of millions of dollars each year." Police continue to work with the banking industry to detect and prevent identity crimes

Police caution the public to always be alert and aware when using their respective bank debit and/or credit cards and to take the time to get familiar with the appearance of the ABM they regularly use. You will find a number of tips and contacts at the OPP Fraud Prevention links.

Symantec Reports Shortened URLs As Tools Of Crime

2011-04-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Shortened URLs have become a conspicuous tool in the weaponry of cyber-criminals, a recent report has revealed.

from ITProportal.com
Written by Ravi Mandalia

The report, published by Symantec Corporation also claimed that last year alone, millions of shortened URL links were advertised on a number of major web-platforms including the social networking websites, with a significant portion of those links resulting in luring the unsuspecting surfers into phishing and malware attacks.

Con Mallon, director of Norton, the consumer online protection brand said in a statement,

“We are seeing that people are being tricked and they're clicking on those shortened URLs”.

Mallon continued, "People have become a little more savvy to looking at the URL to see if it really does look like a proper URL from that company or that individual or that website, but I think when you shorten it, it changes the game".

The report also emphasised on the point that with this new strategy, the “dark-forces” of the virtual world are inflicting far more damage than ever before.

Experts are of the view that though shortened URLs has many a time proved itself as an efficient method to keep it simple, users should really pay some serious attention on their associated security risks, before clicking on these links.

Read more story at ITProportal.com

Fallsview Casino Targeted by Debit Card Skimming Team

2011-04-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

OPP Charge 7 Individuals

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario, April 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - On Thursday April 7, 2011, during the early afternoon hours, the Fallsview Casino was targeted by a group of credit and debit card fraudsters.

In a two hour period, 7 males visited numerous ATM machines within the casino and obtained significant quantities of cash from hundreds of compromised bank accounts.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Casino Enforcement Unit officers attached to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario observed and arrested members participating in this fraudulent scheme and have recovered over $15,000 in cash and hundreds of credit cards.

Investigators believe that this group of fraudsters was capable of defrauding Canadian banks and personal bank accounts of $250,000. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending.

Charged with Possession of Stolen Property are:

Gavin ANTON-REGINOLD, 21 years of Markham,
Nandakumar KANDIAH, 31 years of Cornwall
Jawad MASHUQUE, 21years of Toronto
Prasath PATKUNASINGAM, 24 years of Mississauga
Srimylan SRIVIGNESWARAN, 22 years of Scarborough
Ramanan THIRUNAVUKKARASU, 29 years of Mississauga
Vigithan VIGNESWARAN, 21 years of Toronto

The above males were all held in custody pending a bail hearing which was scheduled to take place today at the Ontario Court of Justice located in St. Catherine's.

Fraud Can Cost You and Legitimate Charities

2011-04-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Money Can be Lost and Reputations Harmed

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

ORILLIA, Ontario, April 5, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - In Canada, we have a long tradition of donating money to legitimate charities during various fund raising appeals. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) want to remind you to be wary and careful before opening your heart and your wallet to someone representing an unfamiliar charity or special interest.

"By nature, we are generous people. Committing your hard-earned money to charity should be as safe and secure as you intend it to be in order to reach the people or causes you want to help." - Deputy Commissioner Scott Tod, OPP Investigations/Organized Crime Command.

Each year, millions of people are contacted - at the door, by mail, by phone, or by e-mail - by those who use names or causes that are very close to the names of legitimate and respected charities. By approaching you at your residence, you may feel even more urgency or pressure to donate. These people may actually be fraud artists preying on your generous nature.

"Criminals will ruthlessly use whatever means necessary to prey on your good intentions for their own selfish purposes. Awareness about the charitable organizations you want to donate to is your best defence against these scams." - Detective Inspector Bernie Murphy, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch.

Throughout the year, the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch recommends that would-be donors consider the following tips:

...If you receive a telephone call, ask for the information to be sent to you in writing. Ask how much of your gift will be used directly for the charity. Ask how much will go toward administrative costs. Legitimate charities will have no problem giving you this information.

...Never give out your personal or financial information over the phone, or at the door. You may wish to make out a cheque payable to the charity. You can mail the cheque later.

...Call the charity. Find out if they know about the appeal and if it is authorized, and what percentage of your donation they will receive. You should never feel pressured into making a donation.

...Ask if the charity is registered. Contact Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-267-2384. Ask CRA for the charitable tax number of the charity. Question any discrepancies.

...At the beginning of each year, decide which charities to support - send your cheques directly to their head office, and feel good about giving. If approached more directly, you can then say that you have already given, and perhaps you will consider their appeal next year when you decide on the charities to support.

If you suspect a fraud artist is at work, file a complaint by calling your local police or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or visit online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

Australian Institute of Criminology - Cybercrime

2011-04-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2011.
http://scout.wisc.edu

Established in 1973, the
Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) "seeks to promote justice and reduce crime by undertaking and communicating evidence-based research to inform policy and practice."

The AIC's research on cybercrime has resulted in many publications, which visitors can find by clicking on "Publications" in the box entitled "AIC Work" on the right side of the main cybercrime page. The publications are on topics that range from cyber bullying, computer security tools used by Australian businesses, and challenges of cloud computing.

Back on the main cybercrime page, the "Theft, Fraud and Financial Crime" link under "Contents" takes visitors to articles that address internet fraud, phishing, scams, and electronic money laundering. The articles are from conferences, governments, journals and organizations around the world, and include, "E-commerce and Internet Auction Fraud: The e-Bay Community Model", "WiredSafety: Scams and Fraud", and "Cyberpayments and Money Laundering: Problems and Promise". [KMG]

Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments issues list of most common fraud and scam complaints

2011-04-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, March 31, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) today issued a list of the fraud and scam-related complaints it most frequently sees in order to help Canadians spot the common traps set by criminals.

"OBSI investigates many consumer complaints related to fraud," said Ombudsman Doug Melville. "While individual circumstances differ, the crimes involved are often simply variations of the same old scams."

With Fraud Prevention Month - the month of March - coming to a close, OBSI reminds all Canadians to remain vigilant against criminals throughout the year.

"Criminals and scam artists are always on the lookout for ways to part you from your money," continued Melville. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed."

TOP SCAMS AND FRAUDS SEEN BY OBSI:

...Debit and credit card fraud: Most of us personally know someone whose debit or credit card was compromised. Keep your cards in a safe place, use different Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for each card, don't share your card and PIN with anyone else, cover the PIN-pad with your hand to prevent others from seeing you enter your PIN, and don't ever write your PIN on the card or leave your written PIN in your wallet or purse.

...Overpayment scams: You advertise something for sale, and find a buyer. Success! But the buyer has written you a cheque for too much money. He asks you to return the overpayment by sending a wire. By the time the original cheque is discovered to be counterfeit, the "buyer" and your money have disappeared. Criminals also target landlords with this scam. Know that once funds are sent by wire to a fraudster, the money is usually not recoverable.

...Debt consolidation scams: This scam becomes more common during times of economic recession and personal financial trouble. Someone whose credit limit is stretched to the max and has multiple debts will pay a company a fee for debt consolidation at a lower rate. In return, this person receives a cheque to clear the original debts. The cheque is deposited to a bank account and existing debts are paid off from the proceeds. It is not until the consolidation cheque later turns out to be counterfeit that the scam is discovered. The unfortunate victim now has an even-bigger debt problem.

...Identity theft: Your personal and financial information is valuable, and criminals love to get their hands on it. When they do, they may be able to open bank accounts, get credit cards and borrow money - all in your name. Protect your personal information, safely store important financial documents, and shred those financial documents and statements you no longer need.

...Sales scams: This one can affect both buyers and sellers. Online transactions involve a degree of trust, and the bad guys can take advantage of this. Sometimes you sell something over the internet and don't receive payment, other times you pay for something you don't receive. Understand how online selling works before you try it and take steps to minimize your risks, whether you are a buyer or a seller.

...Fraudulent investments: If you're offered a special deal on an investment "for you only", or guaranteed high returns, watch out! As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buy your investments from licensed investment advisors working with regulated firms. Then if something goes wrong, there may be somewhere to turn to (like the regulators or OBSI) for help.

Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI)

OBSI is the national independent dispute resolution service for consumers and small businesses with a complaint they can't resolve with their banking services or investment firm. As a free alternative to the legal system, we work informally and confidentially to find fair outcomes to disputes about banking and investment products and services.

OBSI looks into complaints about most banking and investment matters including: debit and credit cards; mortgages; stocks, mutual funds, income trusts, bonds and GICs; loans and credit; fraud; investment advice; unauthorized trading; fees and rates; transaction errors; misrepresentation; and accounts sent to collections. Where a complaint has merit, OBSI may recommend compensation up to a maximum of $350,000.

"Real" Family and Friends Wouldn't Do This!

2011-03-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

OPP warn you to be wary of 'Emergency Scam'

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Con artists prey on the most vulnerable in society, which may include the elderly, who are often hesitant to say 'no' to someone on the phone. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say this type of telephone fraud can easily be prevented by simply hanging up.

The "Emergency Scam" -- sometimes referred to as the "Grandparent Scam" -- has been around for years. Members of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch have noted a marked increase in the number of complaints in the last few months and warn you to be on alert.

In the usual "emergency" scenario, an elderly person receives a phone call from a con-artist claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren, a friend of the family, or a former neighbour. The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble and 'need money immediately.' Typically, they claim to have been in a car accident, or are having trouble returning from a foreign country, or they need money for bail. Victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent through a wire transfer service, as the caller specifically asks that they do not want other relatives to 'know what has happened', saying something similar to, "Don't tell Dad. He would be very upset with me if he found out. Please send the money ASAP. I'm scared."

From January to November 2010, 1073 complaints were made to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC; formerly Phonebusters) by Ontario residents reporting this scam. 195 complaints in Ontario involved victims who were defrauded of more than $853-thousand. That money is often funnelled back into criminal organizations to perpetuate and expand the cycle of illegal activities further victimizing the unsuspecting public.

If you suspect you or someone you know has been a victim of an 'emergency' money transfer or "Grandparent Scam", contact your local police service or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

SeniorBusters Program from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

2011-03-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

Seniors are targeted for many reasons: loneliness, lack of family support, age vulnerability and for health-related reasons such as Alzheimer's. Seniors are particularly susceptible to fraud schemes because their generation tends to be more trusting and less likely to end conversations. Fraudulent telemarketers build relationships with seniors and gain their trust before victimizing them. Ruined family lives, great financial losses and suicides have resulted from this brutal crime against the elderly.

Unfortunately, staff at the CAFC found they had neither the time nor the resources to follow up with victimized seniors so the Centre decided to enlist volunteer seniors who could help with the battle against mass marketing and identity fraud. The volunteers were able to relate personal experiences, provide support and establish rapport with elderly victims. The “seniors helping seniors” program was named SeniorBusters.

SeniorBusters was officially launched by Premier Mike Harris in October 1997. Since then, it has grown to a group of approximately 50 active volunteers. They come from diverse backgrounds and bring many different skills to the CAFC and its attempt to reduce the level of mass marketing fraud and identity theft. This is clearly a successful and effective long-term strategy in reducing the number of seniors victimized by fraud. SeniorBusters helps fraud victims by;

...Relating personal experiences, wisdom and expertise

...Providing strength to victims

...Providing emotional and moral support

...Being sensitive to the needs of seniors

...Contacting victims as often as needed

...Educating and re-educating seniors

...Obtaining suspect company information

...Referring victims to other appropriate agencies

...Developing personal relationships with victims

...Ensuring that seniors have a place to turn to when they need assistance

...Helping victimized seniors regain personal dignity

SENIORBUSTERS was honored to receive RCMP Commissioner’s Volunteer Award in recognition of their dedication of service and support for the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre...get more information here

Security Tips to Help Canadians Fight Debit Card Fraud from Interac®

2011-03-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, March 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - With Fraud Prevention Month coming to a close at the end of March, Interac Association urges Canadians to remain vigilant about debit card security year-round. Fighting fraud is a collective effort and with a few handy tips in mind, consumers can take steps to stay secure when using Interac services.

"Through sophisticated fraud monitoring, coordination with law enforcement and industry players, and ongoing product innovation, such as the migration to chip technology, we are helping to make a safe payments system even more secure," said Caroline Hubberstey, Director, Public and Government Affairs, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation.

Recent data from Interac Association shows that debit card fraud has declined year-over-year. Dollars lost to debit card fraud decreased 16 percent from $142.3 million in 2009 to $119 million in 2010. Similarly, the number of Interac Debit cardholders who had funds reimbursed as a result of debit card skimming decreased from 238,000 cardholders in 2009 to 205,200 in 2010 - down 14 percent.

While fraud is a serious concern, the data reflects the safety of the Interac network. In 2010, 99.99 percent of the nearly 4 billion Interac Debit transactions, valued at more than $175 billion dollars, were processed without incident.

"While this decline in fraud is positive, the aggressive fight against fraud continues and we want to remind cardholders that they can also help," said Hubberstey. "With this in mind, we've compiled tips to help cardholders stay security savvy when using their debit cards to make purchases in-store or to obtain money from ABMs."

Interac cardholder security tips:

...Insert first - To avoid an unnecessary swipe of your card and reduce the potential of fraudulent card skimming, insert your chip debit card into a merchant's terminal. If the terminal is not chip capable, it will prompt you to swipe your card.

...Protect your PIN - When entering your PIN at a terminal or ABM, shield your PIN with your hand or body.

...Check your statements - Check your financial statements regularly. If you see unusual activity, contact your financial institution immediately. Cardholders who experience fraud are protected through the Interac Zero Liability Policy and do not suffer any financial losses.

...Memorize your PIN - Do not share your PIN with friends or family members and do not use easily guessable digits, like your year of birth or phone number. Change your PIN frequently.

...Keep your card in sight - Keep your debit card in sight when conducting a transaction at the checkout and remember to remove it from the terminal after.

...Report a lost card - Notify your financial institution immediately if your debit card is lost or stolen.

To learn more about Interac fraud prevention, visit http://www.interac.ca/consumers/security_fraud.php.

For more information on chip technology, visit www.interac.ca/consumers/chip.php.

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

2011-03-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

It takes mere seconds to become a victim.

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - As part of Fraud Prevention Month, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) believe greater awareness and improved security practices can help prevent consumers from becoming victims of identity theft.

Identity theft is the starting point for many types of crimes — credit and debit card fraud, mortgage fraud, and account takeovers among other things. Typical cases involving identity theft include situations where government documents — such as drivers' licenses, health cards, Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) cards and birth certificates — have been forged or otherwise unlawfully obtained.

"Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. No one is immune. But everyone can minimize their risk of becoming a victim through greater awareness." - Deputy Commissioner Scott Tod, OPP Investigations/Organized Crime Command.

The consequences of having your identity compromised can have a profound and long-lasting impact on your individual finances, credit ratings, as well as with your dealings with businesses, government and other agencies.

Knowledge is power. Consumers can take some basic steps to better protect themselves from becoming a victim, such as never giving out personal information over the phone or over the internet if you are not sure whom you are dealing with, or carrying only the identification documents you need.

"Criminals are technically able to use stolen personal information to obtain documents and support other crimes. Managing your information wisely and cautiously can help you guard against identity theft." - Detective Inspector Bernie Murphy, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch.

The OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau - Identity Crimes Unit also makes use of new, stronger legislative tools with which to charge criminals for possessing the personal information of others and prevent it from being used for fraud or theft.

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

Learn More

OPP - March is Fraud Prevention Month

The OPP Identity Crimes Unit has a number of tips and contacts to help you avoid becoming a victim of identity theft at this link.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly Phonebusters) - Identity Theft

For a Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Identity Theft Victims' Guide, click here (PDF file)

Be Wary of Investment Fraud Schemes

2011-03-15T06:09:00.000-07:00

If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Most Likely Is

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 14, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - If you have been promised big returns for minimal investments, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) suggest it may be the work of heartless fraud artists.

March is Fraud Prevention Month. There are many qualified professionals who can provide investment and financial advice and recommend suitable investments. Members of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch know that many people seek out alternative investment products through a variety of investment schemes, often with international connections, that do not have your best interests at heart.

Many of these schemes lure victims by promising high rates of return. The perpetrators are usually vague about the details of where the money is invested. They may tell the potential investor that providing too much information may result in getting under-cut and loss of the investment opportunity. In fact, the investor's money is often not invested, and frequently moved to offshore banks which do not honour Canadian banking regulations or procedures. Usually, the money invested in these schemes is not recoverable.

"The harm that can be caused by perpetrators of fraud who prey upon vulnerable people is staggering. The money taken is often funnelled back into criminal organizations to fuel illegal activities, further victimizing the unsuspecting public." - Deputy Commissioner Scott TOD, OPP Investigations and Organized Crime.

A well-known example of fraudulent investments is known as a "Ponzi" scheme. Primary investors are paid exceptional dividends as "interest cheques" or sometimes cash. These unbelievably high returns are not, in fact, actual dividends, but come from the deposits of new investors as they come on board.

The perpetrators of Ponzi schemes can keep them going through a variety of ruses and attracting others until the perpetrator has either accumulated his target amount and flees with the profits, has lost the investors' money in other business ventures, or is incarcerated for similar crimes. These types of schemes can go on for several years before the investors realize that they have been defrauded.

"No one is immune to fraud. Common sense is your best protection. Always do your research, talk to others and never be rushed into making an investment decision. If someone is offering you an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." -- Detective Inspector Bernie Murphy, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch.

Investors should always exercise caution and carry out due diligence before making investment decisions. If someone is offering you more than the bank is willing to pay, then there is always a risk. The greater the dividend promised, the greater the risk.

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

LEARN MORE

OPP - March is Fraud Prevention Month

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly Phonebusters) -

For more information on schemes involved with Investment Fraud, visit the Ministry of Government Services website at www.ontario.ca/consumerprotection

OPP www.opp.ca

Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/OPP_News

Canada Post reminds customers to safeguard themselves against fraud

2011-03-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, March 7, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - March is Fraud Prevention Month and Canada Post wants to remind customers that fraud, identity theft and other types of scams can happen anywhere - in your mailbox, via email, on the telephone, discarded documents and more.

One of the fastest growing crimes in Canada is identity theft and it occurs when someone steals your name and other personal information with the intention of assuming your identity to gain access to your finances, make purchases and incur debts in your name, or commit other crimes. In addition to names, addresses and phone numbers, thieves steal social insurance numbers, driver's license numbers, credit card and banking information, bank cards, calling cards, birth certificates and passports. Once this information is stolen, it can be used to finance spending sprees and open new bank accounts, or to redirect your mail and apply for loans, credit cards and social benefits. This kind of criminal activity can ruin an individual's financial credibility which can take a significant amount of time to re-establish.

Common techniques used to obtain personal information fraudulently include:

...Stealing mail, such as bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, and new cheque and tax information, before delivery.

...Stealing delivered mail by breaking into apartment, community and residential mailboxes.

...Completing a fraudulent change of address form to redirect your mail to another location.

...Searching through personal or business trash, or the public trash dumps.

...Breaking into mailboxes, delivery boxes and other Canada Post property to steal incoming or outgoing mail.

Here are some tips to help protect your identity and your mail:

...Pick-up mail as soon as possible after delivery.

...Deposit your mail as close to scheduled pick up time as possible. Do not leave mail overnight in the mailbox.

...Do not discard mail with your personal information on it in the recycling box.

...If you are planning a holiday, arrange for someone to pick up your mail or use Canada Post's hold mail service.

...Do not leave mail in unprotected areas. If the mail has been delivered incorrectly, please write, "delivered to wrong address" on the front of the envelope. If addressed to someone not living at your address, write "not at this address." In either case, deposit the mail into a red street letter box or the outgoing mail slot of your community mailbox at your earliest convenience.

...Shred all personal information. Businesses in particular need to make sure receipts and customer information are shredded before disposing of them in a dumpster.

Canada Post operates PosteCS to support the transmission of confidential and sensitive information in a timely digital environment. For more information go to www.canadapost.ca.
Report any suspicious activity to our customer service number 1 800 267-1177.

Canada Post has a team of postal inspectors - the first investigative body established in Canada in 1772. The team helps protect mail by advising on security requirements, investigating reported incidents of mail theft, damage to Canada Post property, fraud, threats to employees, corporate policy violations and mail-related criminal offences - including those which are tied to Identity Theft/Fraud.

Please visit our Postal Security center for more information.

March is Fraud Prevention Month: Beware of phishing scams

2011-03-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

FCAC helps consumers protect themselves against fraudulent emails

Ottawa, March 6, 2011 (Canada NewsWire) Canadians should remember that they are not alone when they surf the Web, and that others may be using the Internet for malicious purposes. As part of Fraud Prevention Month, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) reminds Canadians of the importance of protecting themselves from Internet and email fraud.

“Fraud can take many forms. Nobody is safe from it, not even the most knowledgeable consumer,” says FCAC Commissioner Ursula Menke.

One common form of fraud is called “phishing”, where a victim receives a fraudulent email that appears to come from a legitimate organization, such as a Government of Canada department or the victim’s own financial institution. The email instructs the consumer to visit a false website, download fraudulent content or provide confidential personal information.

With your personal information, such as your date of birth, passwords, Social Insurance Number, credit card or bank account information, fraudsters can use your credit card accounts or get new credit cards, and make purchases that you might be held responsible for. If your personal information falls into the wrong hands, you could even become a victim of identity theft.

How can you avoid falling victim to Internet or email fraud?

...Never give out personal information over the Internet unless you trust the site you are on. Check that there is a padlock icon in the Web browser window and that the electronic address begins with “https://”

...Open a single browser window at a time when using online banking, and don’t forget to clear your computer’s memory cache when done.

...Never allow your computer to remember your passwords; change passwords regularly and do not share them with anyone. You can be held responsible for unauthorized transactions on your bank account if you are found to have divulged information about your account, such as your password or personal identification number (PIN).

...Make sure your computer’s antivirus protection is up to date and use the latest version of your Web browser.

...Check to make sure that the Internet address provided in the emails you receive is related to the subject of the emails.

...Access websites using the address bar. Never click on links provided in emails.

FCAC also publishes tip sheets to help Canadian consumers protect themselves against and prevent identity theft, credit card fraud, and fraudulent e-mails and telephone calls. In a video success story, Ken MacDonald, Crime Prevention Coordinator with the New Glasgow Police Service in Nova Scotia, offers some advice about preventing telephone fraud and identity theft. FCAC’s publications and tip sheets are available on the Agency’s website at moneytools.ca.

How Do Ethical People Commit Fraud?

2011-03-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Pleading ignorance, shifting blame and moral justification, among the six rationalizations identified by new Queen's School of Business research

KINGSTON, Ontario, March 1, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Although most people would consider themselves ethical, it turns out that we are all very capable of committing fraud according to new research from Queen's School of Business. The three factors that must first be in place are opportunity, motivation and the ability to rationalize our actions.

"Not all fraudsters are bad people, but it's a slippery slope when any of the elements of the 'fraud triangle' are in place that may push them to do something they otherwise would not have," says Pamela Murphy, Professor of Accounting at Queen's School of Business. "Rationalization is perhaps the most insidious of the three factors as this enables someone to maintain their code of ethics and avoid the guilt or self-condemnation that would otherwise have been attributed to an act of fraud."

According to Murphy, there are six categories of rationalization that enable people to commit fraud while still maintaining their ethical principles.

...Pleading ignorance - Ignore or misconstrue the consequences of the act.
The fraudster's response: "I'm not hurting anyone"

...Shifting the blame - Diffuse or displace responsibility elsewhere to not hold yourself responsible.
Caught in the act: "Everybody does it"

...Advantageous comparison - By comparing the wrongful act against a much more flagrant act, the original act looks better.
Wrong doer's evaluation: "This is nothing compared to…"

...Moral justification - Reprehensible acts are re-construed as socially worthy or having a moral purpose.
A non-guilty plea: "I'm protecting the company, employees, my family…"

...Euphemistic labeling - Using convoluted verbiage to make a wrongful act sound better.
Spin master's buzz words: "I'm trying to level the playing field"

...Victim takes the fall - Finding faults with those impacted by the event or circumstance.
Denial of guilt: "They had it coming"

According to a recent report by PriceWaterhouse Coopers, one in three organizations was a victim of fraud within a one year period. This speaks to the need for more recognition of the various factors that can help to predict the likelihood of fraud.

"Armed with the knowledge of these psychological red flags we may be able to detect fraud earlier or potentially prevent all together," said Murphy. "Otherwise, a fraudster looks just the like the rest of us."

About Queen's School of Business
Queen's School of Business is one of the world's premier business schools—renowned for exceptional programs, outstanding faculty and research, and the quality of its graduates. Canadian executives regard Queen's as Canada's most innovative business school, offering students academic excellence and a superior overall experience. Queen's School of Business—where Canada's first Commerce program was launched in 1919—is located at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. The School also delivers programs at locations across Canada, as well in the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Are you a secure online shopper? Driving Internet security awareness with Interac® tips

2011-03-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

TORONTO, March 1, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - With March marking the start of Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation are providing Canadians with security tips and advice for online shopping. Canadians are among the highest users of debit cards in the world and with Interac products, they can also carry out transactions with confidence over the Internet.

"During Fraud Prevention Month, we are reminding Canadians about the simple things they can take to pay-it-safe online," said Caroline Hubberstey, Director, Public and Government Affairs, Interac Association and Acxsys Corporation. "While we and our partners work continuously to create a safe and secure payments environment, there are always extra steps consumers can take to help protect themselves from fraudulent activity on the Internet."

Consumer tips to help create a safe, online shopping environment:

...Connect securely: Before you begin your online shopping, make sure you have a secure, password-encrypted connection and the latest security software installed on your computer.

...Avoid making online purchases through an unsecured or borrowed Internet connection.

...Follow your instincts: While there are many legitimate online merchants, trust your instincts and avoid making a purchase over the Internet if you have concerns about a specific website.
For a list of trusted merchants accepting Interac Online, visit www.interaconline.com.

...Check the URL: Always type a merchant's website URL directly into your browser instead of clicking on a third party link (such as a link embedded in an email advertisement), which may be a phishing attempt directing you to a fraudulent website. Reputable merchants offer secure browsing, indicated by a https link or SSL certificate.

...Pay securely: Interac Online makes paying for goods and services over the Internet safe and easy using funds withdrawn directly from your bank account. None of your financial details, card numbers or login information are shared with the online merchant or a third party because your payment is conducted through participating financial institutions'* online banking sites. For more information on Interac Online, visit www.interaconline.com.

...Read the privacy policy: Once you've selected goods or services to buy online, always check the small print. What is the merchant's privacy policy? Will the merchant withhold any of your personal information? This should be addressed clearly on the website.

...Save a record of the purchase: Print and file a copy of your receipt, as well as the merchant's terms and conditions, should you need to return the product or consult the warranty.

...Examine your purchase: Once you receive your purchase, inspect it to ensure it is exactly what you purchased and did not incur damage during shipping.

And remember: Should fraud occur, remember that Interac Debit cardholders who use Interac Online to complete a transaction are protected from any financial losses resulting from circumstances beyond their control by the Interac Zero Liability policy.

"The last thing consumers want to worry about when they're shopping on the Internet is the threat of fraudsters," said Hubberstey. "The unique design of Interac Online provides Canadians with peace of mind when they're online shopping - even stolen cards and PINs cannot be used to complete Internet transactions."

About Interac Association

A recognized world leader in debit card services, Interac Association is responsible for the development and operations of the Interac network, a national payment network that allows Canadians to access their money through 59,000 Automated Banking Machines and 727,000 point-of-sale terminals across Canada.

Interac Association was founded in 1984 and is comprised of a diverse membership that includes banks, trust companies, credit unions, caisses populaires, merchants, and technology and payment related companies.

Online fraud accounts for 41 per cent of all funds lost to fraud

2011-02-28T10:19:00.000-08:00

Education during March's fraud prevention month is key to safeguarding Canadians

TORONTO, February 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Online fraud continues to rob Canadians of hard-earned income. As much as 41 cents of every dollar lost to fraud is a result of online scams such as phishing emails and spoof websitesi. With 80 per cent of Canadians over 16 years of age onlineii, consumer education regarding cybercrime and fraud prevention is extremely important.

Ahead of fraud prevention month in March, PayPal Canada's Blog is available to provide tips on:

...How to recognize types of online scams such as phishing emails and spoof websites.

...Tips for how Canadian consumers can best protect themselves against identity theft and fraud online.

...An understanding of some of the protections that exist to keep consumers safe when shopping and sending money over the Internet.

PayPal's fraud models and verification techniques are recognized as some of the strongest in the industry and, because PayPal never shares users' financial information, security and privacy are built into the service. Canadians make an online transaction with PayPal once every second, and with over four million active accounts in Canada, PayPal is a leader in the Canadian e-commerce space.

ICBC's Facial Recognition Technology Protects Customers by Identifying Fraud

2011-02-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

VANCOUVER, February 23, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Two years after it was introduced, ICBC's use of facial recognition technology has had a dramatic impact on helping to protect our customers from identity theft and fraud.

In 2010, the technology - which enables ICBC to compare a cardholder's image with their existing image on file and with an entire database of millions of images - played a vital role in a number of convictions. The technology works by analyzing facial characteristics that do not change, such as the size and location of cheekbones and the distance between the eyes.

"We've always been proud of the security of our driver licensing system but facial recognition technology has taken us to a new level in protecting our customers," said Fred Hess, vice president of driver licensing at ICBC. "We're now at the forefront of identity protection."

Here are a few of the many cases of identity theft and fraud that we uncovered in 2010 through the use of facial recognition technology:

...Kelowna: A woman attended the local driver licensing centre and took a road test in the name of her sister. Facial recognition technology matched her image to her own driver's licence and we learned she had actually been prohibited from driving. Several months earlier, she was convicted of driving while prohibited and sentenced to 14 days in jail, a $500 fine, one year's prohibition from driving and one year's probation.

...Nanaimo: We discovered that the photo of a Nanaimo resident was attached to two different driver's licences. Our investigation discovered that one of the identities used to obtain a B.C. driver's licence, register and insure several vehicles, was in fact deceased. This led to the man's arrest for 'personation with intent' and several further admissions from him. We learned that he had obtained the fraudulent licence to avoid his criminal history and the restrictions of his parole, and that he had debt with ICBC which prevented him from obtaining a licence in his own name. He pled guilty in December and was fined $5,000.

...Surrey: A Surrey resident applied for a new B.C. driver's licence in Richmond under the identity of another man, which was discovered through our use of facial recognition technology. In working with a federal agency, it became apparent that the gentleman was an illegal immigrant in Canada who had previously been deported due to organized criminal activity. Our discovery led to his arrest and his deportation in December.

...Penticton: A Penticton man was ordered to pay more than $13,000 in restitution and received a one-year conditional sentence and one-year of probation for obtaining a B.C. driver's licence in the identity of someone who had died at the age of five, back in 1969. The fraud went uncovered for 15 years before our facial recognition technology caught him. His motive was to avoid the consequences of having a criminal record in his own identity and to collect income assistance while working and collecting employment insurance as the deceased.

...North Vancouver: A man was caught in North Vancouver with a B.C. driver's licence in the name of another person, which he had used to register and insure vehicles while being prohibited from driving and owing debt to ICBC. To make matters worse, he had renewed the licence four times and had more than one at-fault claim while impersonating the other driver. He was punished with thousands of dollars in fines and victim impact surcharges.

"Facial recognition technology is now enabling security checks that were not previously possible and helping to uncover fraud that would not have come to light without it," said Ben Shotton, ICBC's manager of driver licensing integrity. "It's unlikely that any of these charges and convictions would have happened without facial recognition technology so it's clear that it's helping to protect our customers."

"We invest approximately $8 million in fraud and investigate thousands of cases each year because we're dedicated to protecting our customers against fraudulent acts," said Shotton.

ICBC first began using facial recognition technology in late 2008, shortly before launching a new B.C. driver's licence in February 2009. The new high-tech licences are harder to alter, forge or obtain using different identities.

At ICBC, we're committed to our 3.3 million customers and their safety on the road. We license and insure drivers and vehicles across the province through our service centres, plus a network of more than 900 independent brokers and government agent offices. Claims customers are served through local offices and our award-winning Dial-a-Claim call centre. We add value to B.C. communities - our road safety investments help create safer roads, lead to fewer crashes, and help keep our rates stable. To find out more, visit icbc.com.

Follow ICBC on Twitter at twitter.com/icbc or visit the website at icbc.com.

Number of Canadians Concerned about Charity Fraud Up Considerably

2011-02-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

CanadaHelps and Capital One Canada launch the second annual charity fraud awareness quiz with $20,000 grand prize

TORONTO, February 24, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians are generous donors, but two-thirds (65%) of them are worried about fraudulent charities, which is up considerably from a survey done in November 2009 (51%). These beliefs, coupled with the difficulty in recovering their lost donation, ultimately results in more than half of Canadians (53%) stating they are less likely to give to charities because of concerns about fraud.

A large proportion, (41%) say they do not take simple steps to check if a charity is registered, ask the solicitor for ID, or visit the charity's website before making a donation and instead rely on the reputation of the charity, and/or, past personal experience with the charity. The survey also found that just over half of Canadians (52%) say they are not confident they would know where to turn to in the event their donation did not go to a legitimate cause.

"What concerns us most is the growing number of Canadians who are worried about these crimes," said Owen Charters, CEO of CanadaHelps. "In educating Canadians to understand the warning signs of these scams, we hope that the well-earned trust in legitimate charities will remain high and Canadians' eagerness to donate will continue to grow."

Today's survey also found that up to 22% of Canadians say they prefer to donate online - an 8 point climb from a similar study conducted in November 2009. In contrast the number of Canadians who say they prefer to donate by cheque is down 7 points over the same time period (from 32% to 25%). Younger Canadians appear to be a driving force behind this change - nearly a third of Canadians aged 18-34 (31%) say online donations are their preferred method.

"With more and more Canadians preferring to donate online, it is increasingly important for credit card users to understand what to look for to ensure they are donating through a legitimate and secure website," said Laurel Ostfield, spokesperson, Capital One Canada. "We know that awareness is key in helping Canadians protect themselves from fraud. By partnering with CanadaHelps on this campaign, we hope to educate as many Canadians as possible so they are empowered to make safe, charitable donations."

To educate the public about charity fraud, Capital One Canada and CanadaHelps are teaming up during Fraud Prevention Month for the second annual Charity Fraud Awareness Quiz. This quiz will help participants identify the signs of charity fraud to hopefully avoid these malicious schemes.

The online Charity Fraud Awareness Quiz is designed to inform Canadians about the risk of charity fraud and how to prevent it. Accessible at www.canadahelps.org, every participant who completes the quiz will be eligible to enter into a draw to win a $20,000 grand prize donation, or one of $1,000 weekly donations from Capital One, to be made to the winner's charity of choice. The Charity Fraud Awareness Quiz runs from March 1-31, 2011.

Capital One and CanadaHelps offer the following charity fraud prevention tips:

...Make sure the charity is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provides you with their charitable registration number. CanadaHelps.org only lists charities registered with the CRA.

...Ask to see a charity's financial statements. These should be readily available to anyone who asks and give you a sense of how the charity spends their money.

...Understand the impact the charity has and what difference they make in the community. Charities should be able to give you clear outcomes of the programs or services they provide.

...Research the causes you want to support and how much of your budget you want to donate to charity. You will feel less pressured to give when solicited if you have already planned your giving.

...Avoid any charity that pressures you into making a donation or isn't open to sharing more information about their organization.

Additional Survey Results:

...77% of Canadians made a charitable donation in the past 12 months with women being more charitable (81%) than men (72%)

...Over one-quarter (28%) of people report they are solicited for charitable donations at least weekly, with 45% saying they get solicited more often in the event of a natural disaster

...In the wake of a natural disaster, the majority of Canadians (61%) report an increased concern over the possibility of charity fraud

...While only 5% of Canadians overall prefer to donate via door-to-door solicitation, a surprising 22% of Atlantic Canadians prefer this method of solicitation

...In terms of deciding who to trust, respondents said the most important factor is a charity's reputation (53%) followed by its media coverage/advertising (31%) and being asked to donate by a friend or colleague (30%)

About the survey

From February 2nd to 3rd, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,008 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error-which measures sampling variability-is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About the Charity Fraud Awareness Quiz

No purchase necessary. Each person who completes the online quiz on charity fraud at CanadaHelps.org and provides the name of their preferred charity is automatically given one entry. Organizations must be federally registered charities with the Canadian Revenue Agency. Contest begins at 9:00:00 a.m. ET on March 1, 2011 and closes at 9:00:00 p.m. ET on March 31, 2011. Full contest details at CanadaHelps.org. Skill testing question required. Four prizes of a $1,000 donation and one grand prize of a $20,000 donation available to be won. Not open to residents of the Territories.

About Capital One

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Capital One has offered Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard credit cards since 1996, when the company first introduced the Platinum MasterCard in Canada. Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF).

About CanadaHelps

CanadaHelps is an online donations website where donors can give safely and securely to all charities in Canada that are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. The mission of CanadaHelps is to engage Canadians in the charitable sector and provide accessible and affordable online technology to both donors and charities to promote - and ultimately increase - charitable giving in Canada.

ONPEA addresses financial abuse: the most common form of elder abuse

2011-02-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

TORONTO, February 17, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontario's population of residents aged 65 and over is projected to more than double from 1.8 million in 2009 to 4.2 million by 2036*. As this segment of our population continues to increase, reports of elder abuse are on the rise. Elder abuse takes many forms and often goes unreported due to embarrassment, loyalty, fear or guilt. Reported occurrence rates range between 2% and 10%. Those who assist abused victims believe the rate of abuse is closer to 10%.

Canadian studies have found that financial abuse is the most commonly reported form of abuse experienced by older people. Financial abuse can include frauds and scams as well as improper use of the continuing power of attorney. Financial abuse is most commonly a pattern rather than a single event and often happens over a long period of time. The abuser is likely someone trusted such as a family member but may also be a telemarketer or con artist. The victim is often influenced through manipulation, lies or threats.

ONPEA recommends ways seniors can protect their money from abuse:

...Consult your own lawyer to draft a power of attorney document and will.
...Choose people you trust to make decisions about your money.
...Arrange direct deposit for your cheques into your own bank account.
...Speak to your bank manager by yourself, that is, in the absence of your power of attorney, to make sure the bank is aware of your desires and following your directions.
...Set-up automatic payments for your bills.
...Keep your bank PIN number safe and DO NOT share with anyone.
...Keep track of all transactions and regularly review bank statements and financial records, even if you have a Power of Attorney doing this for you.
...Before you sign any document make sure you fully understand it or wait until you have someone you trust review it.
...Lend money only if you want to and always have a signed plan for repayment, even for family members.
...Be aware of your legal rights.
...If anyone is taking advantage of you or your money - TELL SOMEONE.

Where seniors can go for help in Ontario:

...The Seniors' Safety Line 1-866-299-1011 operates 24/7 and in over 150 languages. They can assist with safety planning and provide resources available in communities throughout Ontario.

...The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA) 416-916-6728 has regional offices throughout the province.

...Contact local police or OPP. Many regions have task forces and/or officers who specialize in working with seniors.

...Contact Senior Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) for anonymous reporting.

ABOUT ONPEA

The Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA) is dedicated to raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect, through public education, professional training, advocacy, and service coordination. In addition to implementing Ontario's Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse, ONPEA supports a growing number of vital projects and research in elder abuse and neglect prevention.

www.onpea.org

OPP Say Web Savvy Kids are Safer Kids

2011-02-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

February 8 is Safer Internet Day 2011

ORILLIA, Ontario, February 7, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are commemorating Safer Internet Day 2011 by urging young people and their guardians to recognize the risks associated with the wonders presented by the online world.

Safer Internet Day is an international effort to raise awareness of the vulnerability of young people through their activities on the internet, through email, and with cell phones. The theme for Safer Internet Day 2011 is "It's more than a game, it's your life."

"The Internet provides excellent learning opportunities for children. But it opens another door to those who would exploit and victimize them. The OPP and our various partners are committed to providing the information young people and parents need to understand the risks as children learn and play in the online world, such as cyber-bullying and exploitation."
- OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis

As part of Safer Internet Day 2011, Corus Entertainment's youth television channel, YTV, has continued its valued partnership with the OPP and the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. YTV is launching the third in a series of interactive internet safety games. "Dr. Frantic's Cyber Saf-e-Drills 3: Franticball" is an online game on YTV.com where players can only continue by successfully answering cyber-safety questions. YTV is also reinforcing the safety messages on-air through several animated infomercials and live host mentions of the game and other available resources.

"Internet luring is a serious crime that puts our children's safety at risk. We all have an important job to do to make the internet a safer environment, where kids can not only chat with friends and get help with homework, but also access useful and educational information that helps them grow as individuals."
- Hon. Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

The OPP reminds parents and young people that the internet is a wonderful tool when used wisely. In order to better protect their children from online predators, parents can:

...Be involved and know your child's online activity
...Keep the computer in an open area of the home
...Remind children to protect their passwords; encourage them not to share passwords with friends
...Use caution with web cams, unplug web cams when they're not in use and;
...Be sure of whom they're talking to before allowing them to turn on a web cam
...Make sure children are cautious with what they post online
...Know their child's online friends the same way they know friends in real life

"Our government has zero tolerance for sexual and Internet crimes against children. That's why we are working with all of our partners, as part of Ontario's Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet, to combat this problem."
- Hon. Chris Bentley, Attorney General for Ontario

LEARN MORE

Canadian Centre for Child Protection internet safety site: www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca

To access the YTV.com game Dr. Frantic's Cyber Saf-e-Drills 3: Franticball:
http://promos.ytv.com/opp2011/default.aspx

For more information about Internet Safety Tips for parents, go to:
http://www.opp.ca/ecms/files/250363925.pdf

For more information about Internet Safety Tips for teens, go to:
http://www.opp.ca/ecms/files/250363929.2.pdf

For more information about the OPP Crime Prevention Section, go to:
http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=47

Guelph Police Fraud Unit to make Presentation to Seniors

2011-01-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

GUELPH, Ontario January 6, 2011 There are lots of ways for seniors to help themselves. The "Make Yourself at Home" Suite of Services, which is a Program of the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association, has a team of senior volunteers who connect other seniors to their community and its services.

One way "Make Yourself at Home" is assisting this New Year is to host an education session on fraud awareness. In partnership with The Guelph Police Services Fraud Unit, this presentation will be held at the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, Wednesday, January 19 from 1:00-3:00 pm. The Police Service reports it receives calls weekly from seniors who have been targeted by fraudsters, and comment, "We need to educate them about the scams out there so they can Recognize it, Report it, and Stop it from happening".

"Make yourself at Home" has supported clients who have fallen victim to fraud. "Seniors who are aware are much more likely to be able to avoid the fraud pitfalls", explains Program Manager Sheila Schuehlein. "We welcome anyone interested in learning more about how to avoid fraud, or wanting to report an incident to join us at this session on January 19th.

Free parking and refreshments will be provided and an opportunity to bring your questions and concerns. This event is one in a monthly series. Please call Make Yourself at Home to find out more about the upcoming education sessions and to learn how we may be able to help: 519-837-5696.

Five fast and easy cyber tips help make online information secure

2011-01-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

New Year's resolutions you can keep from Trend Micro Canada

OTTAWA, December 29, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - New Year's resolutions don't have to be hard. If you want to be more secure and safe online in 2011, the Trend Micro crew in Ottawa offers some quick and easy ways to make your New Year's resolutions a reality. These insider tips will save you time and money, and go a long way to prevent your online information from being compromised.

"These tips won't prepare you for a marathon, but if you resolve to take a few minutes to update, backup and clean up your PC or MAC files, you'll sprint to a safe and secure online start to the New Year," says Trend Micro's Ian Gordon, Director of Marketing.

1. New Year. New Passwords. The easiest change you can make this year - increase the strength of your passwords, write them down and put them in a safe place (not beside your computer). For the strongest passwords, don't use words at all. Use random letters, numbers and special characters to make a pattern on your keyboard. For example: qWe4%6yUi is much stronger than the name of your first pet.

2. Dude! Back up those files. The New Year is the right time to get in the habit of backing up your files regularly before a hard drive failure, theft or physical disaster provides a gut-wrenching reminder to do so.

3. Update your operating system, Web browser and media applications. Updates are among the best defenses against attack, so take a few minutes to patch those holes before hackers find them.

4. Start 2011 Clutter free. Do yourself and your computer a favor and perform a New Year's cleaning. Your desk or laptop may be slowing down under the burden of all that clutter. Take a few minutes to uninstall unused programs, delete unneeded temp files, get rid of old email attachments and defragment your drive.

5. Install the latest security software suite and keep it updated. Today's security software is more effective and easier to use, and it offers exhaustive protections against cybercriminals, viruses and everything in between. There are free trials available so you can be protected without breaking the bank.

About Trend Micro: Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in Internet content security, focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. Trend Micro is advancing integrated threat management technology to protect operational continuity, personal information, and property from malware, spam, data leaks and the newest Web threats. A transnational company, with headquarters in Tokyo, and operations in 23 countries including Canada, Trend Micro's trusted security solutions are sold through its business partners worldwide.

Joint Investigation Results in 33 Fraud Related Charges

2010-12-31T12:04:00.001-08:00

LONDON, Ontario, December 31, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - A three month joint investigation by the London RCMP Commercial Crime Section and the London Police Service Fraud Section has resulted in the arrest of a London and St. Thomas area woman for 33 fraud related charges.

43 year old Shellie Lyn Cadogan-Drinkwalter has been charged with three counts of using a forged document, twenty-two counts of false pretences, one count of fraud over $5000, two counts of fraud under $5000, two counts of unauthorized use of credit card data, one count of obtaining credit by fraud, one count of identity theft and failure to comply with probation.

Police allege that Shellie Cadogan-Drinkwalter used forged documents and cheques written on a closed account to fraudulently obtain rental properties and vehicles. It is further alleged that she also fraudulently obtained credit cards through methods of identity theft.

"Public vigilance to report suspicious credit card transactions and safe guarding personal information assists the Police with these investigations. We urge the public to exercise good business practices when screening potential new tenants and conducting sales transactions involving high value items," stated Inspector Dwight Blok, Officer in Charge of the RCMP London Detachment.

The next court appearance is scheduled for January 11, 2011 at the London Courthouse.

Don't let the Grinch steal your spirit — or your stuff

2010-12-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

BCAA offers advice to help you protect yourself from holiday theft

BURNABY, BC, December 14, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - While the holiday season is regarded as a time for giving, thieves see it as a time for taking. And, as visions of expensive presents dance in burglars' heads, the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) warns shoppers and families to be extra vigilant with possessions, credit cards and any suspicious activity you may see at shopping centres and around your neighborhood.

According to BCAA, the holiday season brings about more break-ins, stolen credit cards and other theft-related insurance claims as retail shopping increases and families are away from home attending social gatherings or on vacation.

"A burglary of your home or vehicle, or having your credit card stolen can shatter your peace-of-mind," says Brooke Moss, BCAA Home Insurance product manager. "So, it's good to know what thieves are looking for and how to avoid common mistakes."

Most burglars check for four things, says Moss: something worth stealing, easy access to your home or vehicle, low visibility, and a home that is unoccupied. If all of these conditions are met, you become a target.

BCAA claims data shows items stolen during the holidays are typically high in value, light and portable making them ideal for thieves seeking an easy cash sale. The ten most stolen items reported to BCAA's claim department include: jewellery, digital cameras, home theatre equipment, iPods, CDs, DVDs, cash, gift certificates, video games, and computer equipment. According to BCAA, the average theft claim over the holidays is around $3,000.

BCAA offers the following tips to help prevent burglars from stealing your holiday goods:

While you're shopping and using credit cards

...Don't leave any valuables visible in your car, or even in your trunk. Thieves pay close attention to items being loaded into a car. Also, try to park in well-lit and high traffic areas.

...Beware of strangers approaching you. Con artists may try various schemes to distract you, with the intention of nabbing your wallet, handbag or parcels.

...Be discreet when entering your pin numbers. Identity thieves may use cell phone cameras to take photos of credit cards or video footage of cardholders keying in their codes.

...When purchasing online, always use trusted, secure websites. Look for a padlock or key symbol, typically located on the bottom corner of the screen.

...Keep an eye on credit and debit card balances to be sure that the charges listed are correct.

At home

...Store gifts in a room so they're not on display and cannot be seen from outside your home.

....After Christmas, don't leave packaging from expensive items in the recycling, garbage, outside your door or at the curb. Thieves can tell from packaging what you now own inside.

...Consider installing an alarm and/or motion-sensor lights around your home. Alarm systems may save you money on your home insurance. Check with your insurance advisor for details.

...Make your home look occupied. Change which lights you leave on when you're away. Use timers for lights, or a TV and/or radio. Lower the volume of your phone ringer and answering machine. Hearing an unanswered phone or answering machine tells thieves you're not home.

...Prevent easy access to your home. Ensure tools or ladders are stored away and never leave a house key hidden outside. Keep the door between the garage and the house locked.

Going away for the holidays?

...Ask a friend or neighbour to park in your driveway on occasion, and either stop delivery of your mail and newspaper, or have them collected daily.

...Never post your plans to travel away from home on any social media space such as Facebook or Twitter, or on your voicemail/answering machine.

...Be advised that most home insurance policies do not cover loss caused by leaking or frozen pipes while your house is unoccupied for more than four consecutive days, unless you have taken reasonable care to maintain heat in the building and arranged for someone to check on your home OR you have shut off your water supply and drained your pipes.

Consult your insurance advisor to make sure you're protected

...Ensure newly purchased items, or items such as special jewellery that might only get used at this time of year, are adequately covered for theft or loss.

...Keep an itemized list and original receipts of gifts you've purchased. If gifts are stolen from your home or car, having a record will help make the insurance claims process much easier.

Holiday Season brings Annual Increase in Identy Theft - 10 tips to help consumers stay alert

2010-12-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

MONTREAL, December 13, 2010 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - It is a grim holiday tradition: every year, December brings the highest incidence of identity theft and fraud. The crowds of shoppers, increased spending and frequent travel all contribute to a heightened risk for falling victim to criminal activity.

ProtectionPower.ca, which offers identity theft protection resources and services, including proactive identity monitoring, has published a list of tips for safe shopping and consumer transactions during the busiest time of the year.

"Given the huge toll identity theft can take, in terms of stress, lost time and money, it is vital for consumers to take basic, simple steps to protect themselves," explains Sylvain Patry, senior vice-president of ProtectionPower.ca and an expert in protecting against identity theft.

10 tips to keep your identity safe this holiday season:

1. Beware of charity scams. If you want to make a donation, call or contact the organization yourself. Never send bank or credit card information by email or give it over the phone.

2. Watch out for phishing scams. Keep your guard up when reading unsolicited email from an address you don't recognize. Be suspicious of any email or phone message requesting money, your passwords, your account information, personal details or that you "verify your account" or "confirm your identity." Legitimate institutions will never ask you for these things.

3. Think twice before downloading holiday e-cards. As always, treat email attachments with suspicion. They may contain malware that could infect your computer.

4. Do not click on pop-ups or follow links promoting special holiday offers. These, too, may contain viruses. Better to type in a website's address on your own to check out the deal.

5. Never carry more cards or identification than you need.

6. Keep a record of all your card numbers in a safe place at home. If you lose your wallet, it will be much easier to cancel and replace cards.

7. Make sure your laptop and smartphone are password-protected. That way, if you lose either, the thief may not be able to access your personal information.

8. Do not shop or access password-protected accounts from public or work computers. You don't know how secure the computer or wireless network is.

9. Use your hand as a shield when typing a PIN. Never let a credit or debit card out of your sight in a store or restaurant.

10. Always keep your receipts. Examine your credit card and bank statements regularly to ensure there are no suspicious charges.

For more tips, as well as tools to protect yourself from identity theft, visit ProtectionPower.ca.

Avoid the top Five Holiday Cyber scams: Be safe, not sorry

2010-11-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

Best tips for safe on line holiday experiences

OTTAWA, November 25, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians continue to embrace online shopping. Last year we bought more than $15 billion of goods and services, up from $12.8 billion in 2007. According to global Internet security provider Trend Micro, increased online activities and financial transactions also mean more opportunities for scammers and hackers. And the holiday season is a perfect time to take advantage of weary shoppers looking for a great deal or gift.

"The convenience of online shopping doesn't have to come at the added cost of being the victim of cyber scam. Much like the real world, if an online deal looks too good to be true, it probably is," says Trend Micro Canada's Ian Gordon, Director of Marketing.

To protect Canadian cyber shoppers this holiday season, Trend Micro offers five of the most popular cyber scams disguised as holiday deals and what you can do to protect yourself:

Holiday Cyber scams to Avoid

1. Online gift cards offered from an unknown e-tailer, an unsecure URL or individuals reselling online Purchase on line gift cards from reputable well-known sites and companies.

2. An email offering this season's hottest laptop or video game for only $100 Shop safely with a sale from a reputable merchant

3. Charities that want your money for a good cause but are vague about their work or offering tax receipts for more than your actual donations Donate to recognized charities through a safe and secure site Make sure the charity's business registration number is clearly visible on the site.

4. Sharing too much information on social media sites like Facebook about your holiday plans Don't give burglars a chance to visit your home alone. Avoid the impulse to share too much information online about your holiday travel plans.

5. Infecting your computer with viruses from email and websites promising fun holiday videos or music Make sure your antivirus software is up to date and blocks access to malicious or infected websites

Teach your children or grandchildren to view content critically and avoid downloading from file-sharing websites and Don't open email, click on links, or accept files from strangers.

OPP Introduces New Program to Help Parents Keep Children Safe Online

2010-11-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

ORILLIA, Ontario, November 9, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - With Crime Prevention Week underway (Nov. 7 - 13, 2010), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has introduced an effective new Cyber Safety program designed to help parents keep their children safe while they are using the Internet.

The OPP Crime Prevention Section developed the program in partnership with Cowan Insurance Group and the OPP Youth Foundation to raise awareness and educate parents about how to ensure that children are having safe online experiences.

While the Internet provides learning opportunities for youth, it also opens the door to the potential exploitation of children, including cyber bullying and other online threats. The program was designed to address these threats and provides all the information parents need, in order to recognize what risks exist as their children learn and play in the online world. It also provides them the tools to be aware of what sites their children are accessing and how to monitor their Internet use.

"The program focuses on parents and prevention, and while officers are active in schools educating our kids about safe Internet use, it's important that parents also be engaged and educated about Internet safety, as they are instrumental in keeping their kids safe while online", said OPP Inspector Mark Allan of the Crime Prevention Section.

The Cyber Safety program consists of a training kit and resource package that will be provided to OPP Community Services Officers and School Resource Officers who will deliver presentations and make this material available to parents in communities throughout the province.

Cyber Safety Program

...The Cyber Safety program was created by the OPP in partnership with the Cowan Foundation, the Ontario Provincial Police Youth Foundation and the Ontario Provincial Police.

...The Cyber Safety Program provides education and awareness designed to provide parents with essential tools to recognize the risks associated to the Internet and to encourage a safer cyber experience for their children while they are online.

...The launch of the Cyber Safety Program coincides with the 2010 Crime Prevention Week theme "Connecting to kids today - preventing crime tomorrow".

...The program consists of a training and resource package which includes a CD, videos, handouts and instructional material.

...The program is the latest example of the various programs created by the OPP and its community partners to promote crime prevention through school-based and community-based activities.

Internet Safety Checklist for Parents

...Parents should discuss the potential dangers of the Internet with their children and educate them on how to handle situations that may arise. Here are some basic steps parents can take to protect their children:

...Be involved and know your child's online activity

...Keep the computer in an open area of the home

...Remind children to protect their passwords; encourage them not to share passwords with friends

...Use caution with web cams, unplug web cams when they're not in use

...Be sure of who they're talking to before allowing them to turn on a web cam and enter your home

...Make sure children are cautious with what they post online

...Know their online friends the same way they know friends in real life

For more information about Internet Safety Tips for parents, go to: http://www.opp.ca/ecms/files/250363925.pdf

For more information about Internet Safety Tips for teens, go to: http://www.opp.ca/ecms/files/250363929.2.pdf

For more information about the OPP Crime Prevention Section, go to: http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=47

Cell Phone Towers Dangerous to your Health - National Research Council Journal

2010-11-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, November 5, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Living near a cell phone tower can be very harmful, according to a study published today by The National Research Council Journal.

The peer reviewed study shows that low-level microwave radiation from cell towers increases Cancer and many other illnesses. These Illnesses "are consistent with microwave exposure" and happen well below the danger limits set by Health Canada.

The study's co-author, Dr. Henry Lai from the University of Washington said microwave radiation levels that caused Leukemia in U.S. Embassy employees in Moscow in the 1970s, are now commonly radiating from cell towers in neighbourhoods where we live.

Landmark Resolution passed to preserve the Future of Privacy

2010-10-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

International data protection commissioners pass Privacy by Design resolution sponsored by Dr. Ann Cavoukian, with a view to protecting privacy for future generations

TORONTO, October 29, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - A landmark resolution by Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, was approved by international Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Jerusalem today at their annual conference.

The resolution recognizes Commissioner Cavoukian's concept of Privacy by Design - which ensures that privacy is embedded into new technologies and business practices, right from the outset - as an "essential component of fundamental privacy protection." The resolution, which was co-sponsored by Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart and Commissioners from Berlin, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, and Estonia, also:

...Encourages the adoption of the principles of Privacy by Design as part of an organization's default mode of operation; and

...Invites Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners to promote Privacy by Design, foster the incorporation of its Foundational Principles in privacy policy and legislation in their respective jurisdictions, and encourage research into Privacy by Design.

"We live in an era of enhanced surveillance: data mining, behavioural profiling, targeted and discriminatory practices, and cloud computing," Commissioner Cavoukian told her counterparts from around the world. "If we want to preserve the privacy that so many of our freedoms rest upon, beyond the next decade, we need to commit to a new approach, and we need to do it now."

Citing ubiquitous connectivity, new paradigms of information sharing, and online social media that have emerged over the last few years, Commissioner Cavoukian called the current moment "a tipping point" for privacy.

"Unless we act now, privacy as we know it will be gone - lost beyond our grasp - by the year 2020," said Commissioner Cavoukian earlier this week during a key plenary address at the 32nd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners.

Today's resolution marks a sea-change in how the international community will go about preserving privacy, well into the future.

"The velocity of the market drives development of new technologies at a dizzying pace, far beyond what legislative efforts can keep up with," Cavoukian stated. "Reactive regulatory measures alone are no longer sustainable as the sole vehicle for ensuring the future of privacy. This resolution is a commitment to taking swift action now to implement the principles of Privacy by Design and make privacy the default, going forward."

Privacy by Design (PbD), a concept developed by Commissioner Cavoukian back in the '90s, is being adopted globally by a growing number of organizations and jurisdictions. It prescribes that privacy be built directly into the design and operation, not only of various technologies, but also of business processes and networked infrastructure. Instead of treating privacy as an after-thought - "bolting it on after the fact" - PbD is proactive and preventative in nature - a highly effective approach in today's world of increasingly interconnected technologies and extensive data collection. (For more information, see www.privacybydesign.ca.)

The UPS/FedEx 'Delivery Failure' Scam Con artists try an old phishing tactic

2010-10-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

from SilverPlanet.com
By Florence Klein

We first reported the UPS/FedEx phishing scam in September 2008. The scheme has never completely disappeared, and it's recently been circulating again, probably because the upcoming holiday mailing season makes it more likely that people will open the email and click on its attachment.

The emails are variations on the basic theme of "package delivery failure." Some may include a false "tracking" or "packet" number to add verisimilitude and help trick the unwary.

UPS and FedEx aren't the only companies affected. In March 2009 and September 2010, similar emails purporting to be from DHL and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), respectively, began to appear. The USPS version reads as follows:

Hello!

Unfortunately we failed to deliver the postal package you have sent on the 19th of September in time because the recipient's address is erroneous.

Please print out the shipment label attached and collect the package at our office.

United States Postal Service

If you receive such an email, don't be tempted! Clicking on the attachment, which looks like a harmless Word document, opens an executable file that installs malware on your computer. The USPS is also aware of attempts to collect personal information via the phone:

Customers may be receiving email messages or phone calls that allege to be from the U.S. Postal Service that contain fraudulent information about attempted or intercepted package delivery.

For emails: If opened, the messages instruct customers to click on a link to find out more about when they can expect delivery of their "package." Simply delete the message without taking any further action.

For phone calls: Please do not provide any personal information and let the caller know you're not interested and hang-up the phone.

The Postal Inspection Service is aware of the problems and are working hard to resolve the issues and shut down the malicious programs.

We regret any inconvenience this may have caused our customers.

UPS, FedEx, and DHL have all issued warnings to immediately delete these emails and to never click on links contained therein. UPS writes that it “may send official notification messages on occasion, but they rarely include attachments.” FedEx says emails it sends with tracking updates for undeliverable packages “do not include attachments.”

... read more story at SilverPlanet.com

10 Worst Computer Viruses of All Time

2010-10-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

from HowStuffWorks.com
by Jonathan Strickland

There's nothing quite like finding out your computer has a serious virus.

Computer viruses can be a nightmare. Some can wipe out the information on a hard drive, tie up traffic on a computer network for hours, turn an innocent machine into a zombie and replicate and send themselves to other computers. If you've never had a machine fall victim to a computer virus, you may wonder what the fuss is about. But the concern is understandable -- according to Consumer Reports, computer viruses helped contribute to $8.5 billion in consumer losses in 2008 [source: MarketWatch]. Computer viruses are just one kind of online threat, but they're arguably the best known of the bunch.

Computer viruses have been around for many years. In fact, in 1949, a scientist named John von Neumann theorized that a self-replicated program was possible [source: Krebs]. The computer industry wasn't even a decade old, and already someone had figured out how to throw a monkey wrench into the figurative gears. But it took a few decades before programmers known as hackers began to build computer viruses.

While some pranksters created virus-like programs for large computer systems, it was really the introduction of the personal computer that brought computer viruses to the public's attention. A doctoral student named Fred Cohen was the first to describe self-replicating programs designed to modify computers as viruses. The name has stuck ever since.

Old-school Viruses

Some of the earliest viruses to infect personal computers included the Apple Viruses, which attacked Apple II computers and the Brain virus, which could infect PCs.

In the good old days (i.e., the early 1980s), viruses depended on humans to do the hard work of spreading the virus to other computers. A hacker would save the virus to disks and then distribute the disks to other people. It wasn't until modems became common that virus transmission became a real problem. Today when we think of a computer virus, we usually imagine something that transmits itself via the Internet. It might infect computers through e-mail messages or corrupted Web links. Programs like these can spread much faster than the earliest computer viruses...read mores story at HowStuffWorks.com

Google contravened Canadian privacy law, investigation finds

2010-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Google Street View cars inappropriately collected personal information such as e-mails, usernames, passwords, phone numbers and addresses; Commissioner recommends stronger controls and improved privacy training.

OTTAWA, October 19, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Google Inc. contravened Canadian privacy law when it inappropriately collected personal information from unsecured wireless networks in neighbourhoods across the country, an investigation has found.

The Privacy Commissioner's investigation also concluded that the incident was the result of an engineer's careless error as well as a lack of controls to ensure that necessary procedures to protect privacy were followed.

"Our investigation shows that Google did capture personal information - and, in some cases, highly sensitive personal information such as complete e-mails. This incident was a serious violation of Canadians' privacy rights," says Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart.

"The impact of new and rapidly evolving technologies on modern life is undeniably exciting. However, the consequences for people can be grave if the potential privacy implications aren't properly considered at the development stage of these new technologies."

The personal information collected included complete e-mails, e-mail addresses, usernames and passwords, names and residential telephone numbers and addresses. Some of the captured information was very sensitive, such as a list that provided the names of people suffering from certain medical conditions, along with their telephone numbers and addresses.

It is likely that thousands of Canadians were affected by the incident.

Technical experts from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner travelled to the company's offices in Mountain View, Calif. in order to perform an on-site examination of the data that was collected. They conducted an automated search for data that appeared to constitute personal information.

To protect privacy, the experts manually examined only a small sample of data flagged by the automated search. Therefore, it's not possible to say how much personal information was collected from unencrypted wireless networks.

The Privacy Commissioner launched an investigation under the federal private-sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA, after Google revealed that its cars - which were photographing neighbourhoods for its Street View map service - had inadvertently collected data transmitted over wireless networks installed in homes and businesses across Canada and around the world over a period of several years. The networks were not password protected or encrypted.

Google collected the personal information because of a particular code integrated into the software used to collect WiFi signals. The code was developed in 2006 by a Google engineer who was taking advantage of Google's policy of allowing its engineers to use 20 per cent of their time to work on projects of interest to them. He developed the code to sample all categories of publicly broadcast WiFi data and included lines that allowed for the collection of "payload data," which refers to the content of the communications.

The code wound up being used in the Google Street View cars when the company decided to collect information about location of publicly broadcast WiFi radio signals in order to feed this information into its location-based services database.

When the decision to use the code was taken, the engineer who created it did identify "superficial privacy implications." Those implications were never assessed by other Google officials because the engineer failed to forward his code design documents to the Google lawyer responsible for reviewing the legal implications of the WiFi project - contrary to company policy.

Google asserts that it was completely unaware of the presence of the payload data collection code when it began using the software for its location-based services. While the code was reviewed before being installed on Street View cars, the review was only to ensure that the code did not interfere with the Street View operations.

"This incident was the result of a careless error - one that could easily have been avoided," says Commissioner Stoddart.

In light of her investigation, the Privacy Commissioner recommended that Google ensure it has a governance model in place to comply with privacy laws. The model should include controls to ensure that necessary procedures to protect privacy are duly followed before products are launched.

The Commissioner has also recommended that Google enhance privacy training to foster compliance amongst all employees. As well, she called on Google to designate an individual or individuals responsible for privacy issues and for complying with the organization's privacy obligations - a requirement under Canadian privacy law.

She also recommended that Google delete the Canadian payload data it collected, to the extent that the company does not have any outstanding obligations under Canadian and American laws preventing it from doing so, such as preserving evidence related to legal proceedings. If the Canadian payload data cannot immediately be deleted, it needs to be secured and access to it must be restricted.

The Privacy Commissioner will consider the matter resolved upon receiving, by February 1, 2011, confirmation from Google that it has implemented her recommendations.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman, advocate and guardian of privacy and the protection of personal information rights of Canadians.

Privacy Commissioner troubled by poor computer disposal practices and lack of controls for wireless devices in government

2010-10-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

2009-2010 Annual Report to Parliament on the Privacy Act describes impact of federal policies, practices and incidents on the personal information of Canadians.

OTTAWA, October 5, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The federal government's use of handheld communications devices and its practices for disposing of unneeded paper documents and surplus computers could expose the personal information of Canadians to unauthorized disclosure, Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart has warned.

The findings, stemming from two separate privacy audits conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC), were highlighted in the organization's 2009-2010 annual report on the Privacy Act, tabled in Parliament today. The Act applies to federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations.

"Our audits turned up some disturbing gaps in the privacy policies and practices of government institutions," Commissioner Stoddart said. "Whether they're using a BlackBerry, shredding old papers or disposing of outdated computer equipment, public servants need to know that the security of people's personal data is a top priority."

The annual report examines how the government's holdings of personal data are affected by technology and considers the impact of full-body airport scanners and other national security measures on the privacy rights of Canadians. The report also summarizes key investigations into privacy complaints and data breaches that the Office conducted under the Privacy Act in 2009-2010.

"Considering the vast amounts of personal information on Canadians that the government holds, problems are relatively rare," the Commissioner acknowledged. But, she noted, the data that the government collects, for purposes such as taxation, income support, the correctional system and international travel, is highly sensitive. Any unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of such data could therefore have serious consequences.

"When it comes to safeguarding the personal information entrusted to it, the government of Canada must always be held to the very highest standards of account."

Here are some highlights of today's reports:

Wireless audit: Of five federal entities examined, none had fully assessed the threats and risks inherent in wireless communications. Gaps in policies and/or practices resulted in weak password protection for smart phones and inadequate encryption for Wi-Fi networks and data stored on mobile devices. Shortcomings were also noted in the disposal of surplus handheld devices and the use of PIN-to-PIN messaging, a form of direct communication between two smart phones that is vulnerable to interception.

Disposal audit: Satisfactory policies and procedural rules were in place for paper shredding and the disposal of surplus computer equipment among the federal institutions audited. There were, however, disturbing deficiencies in practice. For example, tests on a sample of computers donated to a recycling program for schools revealed that 90 percent of the donating institutions had not properly wiped their computers' hard drives, leaving behind data that was confidential, highly sensitive and, in some cases, even classified.

Unauthorized access to tax records: An OPC investigation confirmed that a former Canada Revenue Agency worker had posted to an Internet chat group some personal tax information of high-profile sports figures, which he appears to have gleaned while working at the agency. The investigation further found that other staff still with the agency had similarly accessed tax records without authorization. They were subsequently suspended or fired and new measures were introduced to safeguard the data.

RCMP Automated Licence Plate Recognition Program: A surveillance technology rolled out by the RCMP in British Columbia, which aims to spot stolen or uninsured vehicles, raised concerns about the collection and retention of incidental licence plate data from cars that were lawfully on the roads. In response to OPC recommendations, the RCMP made privacy-sensitive modifications to the program.

Political Impartiality Monitoring Approach: The OPC reviewed a Privacy Impact Assessment for the Political Impartiality Monitoring Approach, a program developed by the Public Service Commission to monitor media outlets, personal websites and social networking sites for signs of inappropriate political activity by government employees and appointees. The review raised concerns about the scope and privacy implications of the initiative. In response, the Commission undertook to modify its approach and to provide the OPC with a new Privacy Impact Assessment in the fall of 2010.

Technical malfunctions: Several investigations turned up mechanical or computer glitches that led to the unauthorized disclosure of personal information by federal institutions. For instance, a programming flaw allowed a hacker to access personal information submitted through the Canada Post Ombudsman's online complaint system.

Federal administrative tribunals: The OPC continues to express concerns about the disclosure of personal information by administrative tribunals and other quasi-judicial bodies. In one case, the Public Service Staffing Tribunal improperly shared sensitive medical information about an individual with hundreds of his former colleagues. In 2009-2010, the Office published guidelines for tribunals on balancing transparency and privacy in the Internet era.

The full annual report and reports on the wireless and disposal audits are available at www.priv.gc.ca.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman, advocate and guardian of privacy and the protection of personal information rights of Canadians.

Ontario Amber Alert Program teams up with Facebook to help locate abducted children

2010-10-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, October 8, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - At a news conference today, members of the Ontario AMBER Alert program launched an effective new broadcast tool and announced an important new partner to help police locate abducted children when an AMBER Alert is initiated anywhere in Ontario.

"The public's help is critical in locating an abducted child and thanks to our new partner Facebook, we now have a special AMBER Alert Facebook page we can use as an important broadcast medium when we issue AMBER Alerts in Ontario." - Chris D. Lewis, Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police.

Ontario AMBER Alert partners have teamed up with Facebook to create a special AMBER Alert Facebook page on this popular social media network. The Facebook page will now broadcast all AMBER Alerts that are issued in the province, and Facebook users who subscribe to this new page will receive critical AMBER Alert information when police activate the system.

"The expansion of the AMBER Alert program to Facebook will provide police with another tool to help locate abducted children, as well as give the families of these children the additional comfort of knowing that we are able to do more to improve the safety of our children.". - Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

This new partnership was forged through the efforts of the New Brunswick-based child safety non-profit Child Safety Research and Innovation Centre along with WiredSafety.org, a key member of Facebook's Security Advisory Board.

"Protecting children is a responsibility shared by parents, educators, members of the public sector, and companies like Facebook. "As a father of two, I sincerely hope that we never again have to activate an AMBER alert in Ontario or anywhere else in Canada. However, we are thrilled to be part of this important initiative and would like to thank the many AMBER Alert partners for their dedication to it. I'm also proud that Canada is the first country in the world to broadcast AMBER alerts via Facebook." - Jordan Banks, Managing Director, Facebook Canada.

The Ontario Provincial Police facilitates the program under the direction of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and collaborates with its many partners throughout the province to locate children who are abducted in Ontario.

As part of new recommendations that were implemented in 2009, the program now has a dedicated AMBER Alert Coordinator who is responsible for all aspects of the program, including training, education/awareness, communication, ongoing enhancements and expansion of the program.

AMBER Alert Page on opp.ca website

ADDITIONAL LINKS

www.wiredsafety.org/

www.csric.org

www.wirelessamber.ca

www.opp.ca

Are Canadians too polite when it comes to collecting owed money?

2010-09-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

Fewer than three per cent go online to remind about owed money, though etiquette expert says it's perfectly polite

TORONTO, September 28, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians are stereotyped as some of the world's most polite people, but that endearing trait may be holding us back when it comes to collecting money owed from friends, family and co-workers, according to an Interac® network survey, conducted by The Strategic Counsel. The survey results are based among 530 respondents who were ever owed less than $500 by a friend or family member at one time.

Although Canadians are also among the world's most frequent Internet users, the survey shows that we aren't taking advantage of online tools to simplify what is for some an awkward task. Fewer than three per cent of respondents use the Internet as their primary means of reminding someone about money owed. Do Canadians think it's awkward or rude to talk about owed money via the Internet? Do their manners need to evolve for the digital age? For the one in five respondents who said outstanding money owed has definitely or probably factored in a relationship gone sour, the answer may be a relief.

Canadian etiquette expert Louise Fox gives online money talk the green light. "Canadians do everything online - from shopping to banking and even dating," says Fox. Yet very few people are communicating online when it comes to reminding someone they owe them money.

"There's no reason to be shy about bringing conversations about owed money online and into the 21st century - it's perfectly polite," says Fox. "Whether in-person or online, the key to handling money matters politely involves being up front about repayment expectations in a way that makes others feel comfortable, so whether you choose to email a friendly reminder or use Interac Email Money Transfer to invite someone to pay you back online, asking for repayment via the Internet is absolutely fine."

Nearly two in five respondents (37 per cent) say they find it very uncomfortable or feel awkward asking a friend or family member to repay money owed, and the top reasons cited as causes of this discomfort suggest that our politeness is to blame. Most respondents either said they didn't want to pressure someone for repayment in case the person didn't have the money or they didn't want to give the impression that they didn't trust their friend, family member or co-worker to repay them.

"The Interac Email Money Transfer service provides even those of us who are comfortable about reminding friends and family members about owed money with a subtle, online means to remind them using the 'Invite Tool,' while also suggesting they pay you back electronically, right from their bank account to yours," says Caroline Hubberstey, Director, Public and Government Affairs, Acxsys Corporation, whose shareholders are the architects of the Interac network. "No need for cheques or cash - with Interac Email Money Transfer it's simple and immediate - and secure."

Interac Email Money Transfer allows Canadians to send and receive money directly from one bank account to another, simply and securely, using online banking and email notification. Interac Email Money Transfer is integrated with online banking, so the sender does not need to know the recipient's banking information, which means personal financial information is never shared. Email is used to notify the receiver about the transfer, while the money is transferred by the sender's financial institution to the recipient's financial institution, through online banking and the Interac network.

A new feature available through www.interac.ca/invite , called the Invite Tool, provides Canadians a convenient way to remind a friend or family member - via email - about money owed and invites them to use Interac Email Money Transfer for repayment.

The Interac Email Money Transfer service is currently available to customers of 25 banks and credit unions including BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, President's Choice Financial, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust among others. More information about the Interac Email Money Transfer service and a complete list of participating banks and credit unions can be found at www.interac.ca/consumers/productsandservices_ol_emt.php.

About Acxsys Corporation

Acxsys Corporation, comprised of eight large financial institutions as shareholders, is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The Corporation's shareholders are the architects of the Interac network, Canada's national debit network. Acxsys specializes in the development and operation of new payment service opportunities, as well as consulting and management services in the field of electronic payments. Acxsys Corporation businesses include the operation of the Interac Email Money Transfer service, the Interac Online service and international services, through agreements with NYCE Payments Network, PULSE, and China Unionpay. For more information, please visit www.interac.ca.

Privacy Commissioner completes Facebook review

2010-09-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA, Ontario, September 22, 2010 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has finished reviewing the changes that Facebook implemented as a result of her investigation of the social networking site and has concluded that the issues raised in the complaint have been resolved to her satisfaction.

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart today issued the following statement:

The changes Facebook has put in place in response to concerns we raised as part of our investigation last year are reasonable and meet the expectations set out under Canadian privacy law.

The investigation has resulted in many significant changes. Facebook has put in place measures to limit the sharing of personal information with third-party application developers and is now providing users with clear information about its privacy practices.

A major concern during our investigation was that third-party developers of games and other applications on the site had virtually unrestricted access to Facebook users' personal information. Facebook has since rolled out a permissions model that is a vast improvement. Applications must now inform users of the categories of data they require to run and seek consent to access and use this data. Technical controls ensure that applications can only access user information that they specifically request.

We're also pleased that Facebook has developed simplified privacy settings and has implemented a tool that allows users to apply a privacy setting to each photo or comment they post.

It has been a long road in arriving at this point. These changes are the result of extensive and often intense discussions with Facebook. Our follow-up work was complicated by the fact that we were dealing with a site that was continually changing.

Overall, Facebook has implemented the changes it promised following our investigation.

The issues related to the investigation - and, to be clear, I am only speaking about those issues rather than the site as a whole - have been resolved to my satisfaction.

However, our work with Facebook is not over.

While we are satisfied that the changes address the concerns raised during our investigation, there is still room for improvement in some areas. We've asked Facebook to continue to improve its oversight of application developers and to better educate them about their privacy responsibilities. We have also cautioned Facebook against expanding the categories of user information made available to everyone on the Internet - and over which users cannot control through privacy settings. As well, we had recommended that Facebook make its default settings for photo albums more restrictive than "everyone on the Internet" - though this concern has been mitigated to a large extent by Facebook's per-object privacy tool.

Facebook is constantly evolving and we are actively following the changes there - as well as on other social networking sites. We will take action if we feel there are potential new violations of Canadian privacy law.

As well, we have received several further complaints about issues that were not part of our first investigation and we are now examining those. The new complaints deal with Facebook's invitation feature and Facebook "Like" buttons on other websites.

Our ongoing work does not take away from the improvements Facebook has already made. Indeed, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Facebook for the cooperation it has provided throughout our discussions. We recognize that some of the changes needed in order for Facebook to meet its legal obligations in Canada were complex and time-consuming to implement. Ultimately, Facebook has made several privacy improvements that will benefit its users around the globe. I believe we have also demonstrated that privacy protection does not stand in the way of innovation.

I would also like to offer my gratitude to the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic for bringing these important issues forward. CIPPIC recognizes how much Canadians value their privacy and has become an important voice for privacy rights in Canada.

A large focus of our work with Facebook related to third-party applications. It is our expectation that application developers will take note of our investigation. Like Facebook, many of them have an obligation to respect Canadian privacy law.

Finally, Facebook users also have a responsibility here. They need to inform themselves about how their personal information is going to be used and shared. The investigation has led to more privacy information and improved privacy tools - Facebook users should take advantage of those changes.

Detailed information about the investigation is available on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's website, www.priv.gc.ca.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman, advocate and guardian of privacy and the protection of personal information rights of Canadians.

The RCMP in Ontario has launched a Facebook Page!

2010-09-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

LONDON, Ontario, September 21, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - On Monday, September 20, 2010, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ontario, also referred to as "O" Division, launched the official "Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ontario" Facebook page.

Using Facebook will allow us ("O" Division RCMP) to expand our profile, make connections with more people and audiences and promote the work that we do in this province.

To find our page, visit the RCMP "O" Division website at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/on/index-eng.htm and follow the link to facebook . Or, visit www.facebook.com and search for "Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ontario" (not "RCMP").

Materials on the websites are produced for the purpose of providing Canadians with direct access to information about the programs and services offered by the RCMP and the Government of Canada.

The RCMP welcomes feedback from visitors and respects everyone's fundamental right to freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression as provided for in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Before posting anything to our Wall, please review our guidelines below and keep in mind that all unacceptable/illegal comments will be removed and reported.

Acceptable

...civil and constructive comments, suggestions, information

Unacceptable

...racism, hatred, slander, threats, obscenity, violence, vulgarity
...spam
...advertising
...personal information about another person
...copyrighted material that belongs to another person
...links to inappropriate websites

If you want to report a crime, please contact your local RCMP detachment or the police service of jurisdiction in your area. The RCMP does not accept reports of crime via email. For emergencies, please call 911.

The Silent Epidemic: Cybercrime Strikes More Than Two-Thirds of Internet Users

2010-09-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

New Norton Study of 7,000 Web Users Is First to Gauge Emotional Impact of Cybercrime; Victims Feel Ripped Off…

Toronto - September 8, 2010 (Canada NewsWire Social Media Release)

The next time you surf the Internet, consider this: You might be just one click away from becoming the next cybercrime victim. A new study released today from security software maker Norton reveals the staggering prevalence of cybercrime: Two-thirds (65 percent) of Internet users globally have fallen victim to cybercrimes, including computer viruses, online credit card fraud and identity theft.

The Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact shines a light on the personal toll cybercrime takes. The first study to examine the emotional impact of cybercrime, it shows that globally victims‘ strongest reactions are feeling angry (58 percent), annoyed (51 percent) and cheated (40 percent), and in many cases, they blame themselves for being attacked. Only 3 percent don‘t think it will happen to them, and nearly 80 percent do not expect cybercriminals to be brought to justice - resulting in an ironic reluctance to take action and a sense of helplessness.

"We accept cybercrime because of a 'learned helplessness'," said Joseph LaBrie, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University. "It's like getting ripped off at a garage – if you don‘t know enough about cars, you don‘t argue with the mechanic. People just accept a situation, even if it feels bad."

Despite the emotional burden, the universal threat, and incidence of cybercrime, people still aren‘t changing their behaviours - with only half (51 percent) of adults saying they would change their behaviour if they became a victim. Even scarier, fewer than half (44 percent) reported the crime to the police.

Canadian Findings

The Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact polled Canadians and found 64 percent of respondents have fallen victim to some kind of online crime (53 percent received computer viruses/malware, nine percent responded to online scams, nine percent have been affected by online credit card fraud).

On average, it takes 17 days and costs CAD $582 to resolve a cybercrime in Canada. Compared to other countries, the process is fast – but the cost is higher. (Globally 28 days and US $334)

When it comes to behaviours online, Canadians are on par with other countries in their online ethics: 44 percent have lied about personal details online (45 percent globally), 31 percent have used a fake ID online (33 percent globally) and 20 percent have online regrets (22 percent globally). By contrast, some Canadian attitudes differ from the rest of the world. Only one percent of Canadians do not expect to become a victim of cybercrime (3 percent globally), and Canadians are the most skeptical (57 percent) about restoring a damaged online reputation (45 percent globally).

The "human impact" aspect of the report delves further into the little crimes or white lies consumers perpetrate against friends, family, loved ones and businesses. Nearly half of respondents think it‘s legal to download a single music track, album or movie without paying. Twenty-four percent believe it‘s legal or perfectly okay to secretly view someone else‘s e-mails or browser history. Some of these behaviours, such as downloading files, open people up to additional security threats.

"To avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime change your passwords often and make sure they are a combination of letters and numbers," said Lynn Hargrove, Director of Consumer Solutions, Symantec Canada. "Make sure you have a separate credit card for all your online transactions and keep your home computer secure by making sure it has an up-to-date security software."

For more tips, and insights from this groundbreaking study, or to better understand the alarming extent of cybercrime, the feelings of powerlessness and lack of justice felt by its victims, please view the full Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact here.

Grandparent Scam Thwarted

2010-08-30T15:30:00.001-07:00

LONDON, Ontario, August 30 /Canada NewsWire/ - The RCMP London Detachment thwarted an attempted "Emergency" or "Grandparent" Scam last week. An RCMP officer who was attending a bank on unrelated police business learned that a senior citizen was withdrawling a large sum of cash to send to a grandson in trouble while away on a trip. The RCMP officer and bank staff were able to convince the senior to contact family members and confirm some facts. It was later learned that it was indeed a scam.

Though the "Emergency Scam" (or sometimes referred to as the "Grandparent Scam") has been around for years, the RCMP led Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (PhoneBusters) warns the public to be on the lookout after noting a marked increase in the number of complaints in the last two months.

In the typical scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from con-artist claiming to be one of his or hers grandchildren. The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble, usually a car accident, returning from a foreign country, or even bail money and need money immediately.

Victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent as the caller specifically asks that they do not want other relatives to know what has happened by asking "Can you please help me? I'm in jail (or in the hospital / or in some type of financial need). But don't tell Dad. He would kill me if he found out, please sent the money ASAP. I'm scared"

The CAFCC (formerly called PhoneBusters) was established in 1993 and is jointly operated by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Competition Bureau Canada. The CAFCC is a national call centre where people can report fraud complaints and the information is used to assist in investigations. The CAFCC plays a key role in educating the public about specific fraudulent mass marketing and identity theft pitches. It also helps to prevent similar crimes from taking place in the future through its ability to identify emerging trends. To report a fraud call 1-888-495-8501 or report online at www.recol.ca

Protect yourself:

Be vigilant. Protect yourself and your family. Resist the pressure to "act now". Don't panic. Know with whom you are dealing. Ask for his/her name and coordinates and confirm them for yourself or request assistance from a member of your family or somebody you can trust. Contact your local police to help you or to verify the legitimacy of such telephone calls. Be wary of unsolicited emails, telephone calls, or mail attempting to extract money from you or asking you to transfer money electronically urgently. Fraud - Recognize It. Report It. Stop It.

False Sense of Computer Security

2010-08-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

A team of security analysts found that most leading anti-spyware and anti-virus software fail to detect commonly used keyloggers.

HALIFAX, August 24, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Keyloggers are designed to silently record all of one's computer activity. They are commonly used for parents to monitor their children's computer activity. Now they are being used for criminal activity ranging from spying on individuals, identity theft and data theft.

The security team at SpyReveal tested the leading anti-spyware and anti-virus software against ten of the most popular keyloggers. The results were astonishing! Most of the leading security software used to combat viruses and spyware failed to detect 70% of the keyloggers. While most failed to detect any keyloggers at all, SpyReveal successfully detected all keyloggers.

Computer users are receiving a false sense of security when installing various security applications. With the explosion in online banking, the proliferation of identity theft is greater than ever. Many users install an anti-spyware solution with the expectation of being safe from identity theft. Unfortunately, they are still at an extremely high risk for identity theft and data logging.

"More and more news stories are being published of hackers who have obtained credit card records by using keyloggers", said Mr. Hankinson, SpyReveal's co-founder. "Yet, we still see major players in the security industry continue to fail at this specific type of problem."

Still don't think you or your business is at risk? Take for example Verizon's 2009 Data Breach Investigations Supplemental Report which states "Keyloggers and spyware.... played a crucial role in larger breach scenarios in which hundreds of millions of records were compromised."

"Consumers and businesses should not rely on a single solution for security. Each has a specific purpose. We want consumers to realize that even though their anti-spyware software says 'Nothing Found', that any keylogger could still be present, recording credit card information or business intellectual property," Mr. Hankinson added.

It is important for users to purchase security solutions that are designed for a dedicated purpose to receive the highest degree of protection, without being too narrow. With software like SpyReveal, you can rest assured that you are protected from most keyloggers available on the open market.

About SpyReveal

Founded in 1999, SpyReveal, has focused solely on keyloggers and other available commercial surveillance software. The product has been featured all over the world, most recently in USA Today, and is highly regarded by many security experts. For more information, please visit www.SpyReveal.com

In the US - New Scheme Uses Denial-of-Service Attacks to Access Consumer Accounts

2010-08-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Florence Klein, Founder, www.SilverPlanet.com Published August 11, 2010

By now, it's more than clear—con artists never stop coming up with new ways to separate you from your money. Here's another scam to watch out for, as detailed in the following press release from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3):

Fraudulent Telephone Calls Allowing Fraudsters Access to Consumer Financial and Brokerage Accounts

The FBI Newark Division recently released a warning concerning a new scheme using telecommunications denial-of-service (TDoS) attacks.

The FBI determined fraudsters compromised victim accounts and contacted financial institutions to change victim profile information (i.e., email addresses, telephone numbers, bank account numbers).

The TDoS attacks used automated dialing programs and multiple accounts to overwhelm victims' cell phones and land lines with thousands of calls. When victims answered the calls, they heard dead air (nothing on the other end), an innocuous recorded message, an advertisement, or a telephone sex menu. Calls were typically brief but so numerous that victims changed their phone numbers to terminate the attack.

These TDoS attacks were used as a diversion to prevent financial and brokerage institutions from verifying victim account changes and transactions, thus affording fraudsters enough time to transfer funds from victim brokerage and financial accounts.

Protection from TDoS attacks and other types of fraud requires consumers to be vigilant and proactive. In Newark’s public service announcement (PSA), consumers are reminded to protect themselves as follows:
Implement security measures for all financial accounts by placing fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus if you believe they were targeted by a TDoS attack or other form of fraud.
Use strong passwords for all financial accounts, and change them regularly.
Obtain and review your annual credit report for fraudulent activity.

If you are a target of a TDoS attack, immediately contact your financial institutions, notify your telephone provider, and promptly file a report at the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 complaint database links complaints to assist in referrals to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration. The complaint information is also used to identity emerging trends and patterns.

To learn more about the FBI’s role in addressing these attacks, please refer to the FBI Newark Division's PSA dated May 11, 2010.

Protect Yourself Against Mortgage Fraud

2010-08-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

Calgary Real Estate Board offers tips to avoid becoming a scam victim

CALGARY, August 6, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - With the recent rise in mortgage fraud cases in Calgary, the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB(R)) is encouraging members of the public to be informed about mortgage fraud red flags and to do their 'homework' to avoid becoming a scam victim.

"Mortgage scams are carried out in all different forms and involve a multitude of people; some who don't even know they're being taken advantage of," says Diane Scott, president of CREB(R). Participating in a scheme that requires you to provide false or misleading information to a mortgage lender is fraud, an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. "There are two prominent kinds of mortgage fraud today: one involves scams that attempt to illegally acquire property - 'fraud for property' - and one wherein schemes are designed to squeeze money out of transactions involved when a property is exchanged between buyers - 'fraud for profit'," says Scott. "The number-one rule to remember when it comes to real estate investments or any investments ... if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is," adds Scott.

Mortgage Fraud Processes

Straw Buyers: People who are offered money to lend their identity, and are considered phoney loan applicants. They are often offered several thousand dollars for the use of their name and good credit information. Some straw buyers may not know that their name was used on a mortgage application. Another form of mortgage fraud through the use of a straw buyer is to have someone sign documents that contain false information or information they cannot prove. For example, if you state that you will be residing in the property and you have no intention of doing so, that is considered fraud.

Property Flipping: Involves a dishonest seller who artificially inflates the value of a property. This involves fraudulent appraisals, false loan documentation and exaggerated incomes in order to secure loans. The seller inflates the price using a phoney appraisal and arranges for a buyer who can qualify for a large mortgage. Once the mortgage is delivered, the home is sold and another buyer assumes the mortgage. The phoney appraisal remains with the property through multiple transactions, making it difficult to determine the property's true worth. The end buyer is the victim. They're conned into thinking they are purchasing a sound investment property. "CREB(R) takes mortgage fraud very seriously and would, if required, cooperate with the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) and law enforcement agencies to assist in any investigation related to mortgage fraud. CREB(R) is committed to ensuring its members follow the highest standards or professionalism and the REALTOR(R) code of ethics," confirms Scott.

REALTORS(R) are educated in the tell-tale signs of mortgage fraud and are trained to help identify these red flags. CREB(R) also encourages consumers to take a proactive approach and become familiar with the red flags of mortgage fraud.

Some tips for consumers include:

- Do your 'homework'! Make sure you are using a licensed mortgage broker who is registered under the Real Estate Act in Alberta. Licensed mortgage brokers are required to conform to a code of conduct enforced by RECA. Contact RECA at 403.228.2954 to ensure your broker is licensed.

- Before you buy, have a REALTOR(R) show you the listing history on the property. Check the number of sales, price ranges, and community prices.

- Get your own REALTOR(R) or independent representation for your purchase (if the seller objects, something is wrong).

- Ask your REALTOR(R) to provide you with a comparative market analysis of the property.

- Ask for a copy of the land title search.

- In addition to a comparative market analysis you may want to include, as part of your offer to purchase, the option to have the property appraised by a designated or accredited member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada.

- Make sure your deposit is being held in a trust account.

For more information about the red flags of mortgage fraud, go to RECA's website at www.reca.ca/consumers/ and search for 'mortgage fraud red flags'.

Commissioner Cavoukian launches multi-level "Think before you Copy" educational campaign in an effort to eliminate avoidable data breaches

2010-08-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, August 6, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, is urging key players in the province's health sector to join her in a multi-level education campaign aimed at preventing the far-too-frequent disclosure of unencrypted personal health information through the loss or theft of portable electronic devices such as laptops and USB keys.

This announcement comes on the heels of yet another USB key containing the unencrypted, identifiable personal health information of more than 750 patients being lost through the theft of a purse.

"These privacy breaches - which in recent years have included the loss or theft of the unencrypted personal health information of more than 100,000 patients - can and must be stopped," said the Commissioner. "Portable devices should never be loaded with unencrypted personal information. Either encrypt the information, or remove all personal identifiers from the information before loading it onto a portable device."

"Despite my issuing three health Orders and other publications addressing this issue, it is still happening. The message is obviously not getting through to all levels," said the Commissioner. "We have had cases where employees were not aware of a "must encrypt" policy."

Commissioner Cavoukian is sending letters out to all regulatory health colleges and professional associations in Ontario, stressing the need for a new awareness campaign - which she is calling Think before you Copy - and offering the assistance of her office in developing educational initiatives. The College of Nurses of Ontario has already contacted the Commissioner's office, after she publicly cited her concerns Wednesday, offering to explore how to incorporate the information into its ongoing education for its members.

"I applaud the College of Nurses for being proactive and I look forward to working with them," said Commissioner Cavoukian.

While several of the recent breaches have involved hospital staff, many different sections of the health sector have encountered problems, said the Commissioner.

"It is essential," she added, "that all health-care practitioners, their staff and other agents ask themselves one key question before copying any health information to a mobile device. Is it necessary to store personal health information on this device? If the answer is yes, then they must either encrypt the information or effectively de-identify the information by removing all personal identifiers. It's that simple. We are reaching out to the Colleges and associations for their assistance in getting this message out to the entire health sector."

Among the initial ammunition the Commissioner is considering for the Think before you Copy campaign, are:

- generating case studies or practical examples applicable to staff in the various health sectors;

- creating pertinent posters;

- producing stickers for mobile devices with a message reminding health staff to STOP, THINK, ENCRYPT;

- distributing existing guidelines as well as producing short, pertinent articles for college/association newsletters.

The Commissioner stressed that she is also looking for input from colleges and associations.

An awareness campaign and firm action are needed, said the Commissioner. She praised Dr. Bob Bell, president and CEO of the University Health Network, for his commitment to encryption to protect the personal health information of the patients of UHN's three hospitals. Bell explained this week that the hospital group "is putting USB keys across the organization that are encrypted. We told all our staff they must put patient information on an encrypted device if they need to put it on a device at all."

Commissioner Cavoukian is encouraging all health colleges and associations to contact her office "to determine how we may work together in helping you create education programs for health-care practitioners, their employees and other agents on how to minimize the threat to privacy posed by mobile devices."

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is appointed by and reports to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and is independent of the government of the day. The Commissioner's mandate includes overseeing the access and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the Personal Health Information Protection Act, which applies to both public and private sector health information custodians, in addition to educating the public about access and privacy issues.

Award winner's breakthrough efforts reveal how technology can lock-in privacy: Commissioner Ann Cavoukian

2010-07-23T12:00:00.001-07:00

TORONTO, July 22, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - A major breakthrough by IBM researcher Craig Gentry has led to him being named as the winner of the 2010 Privacy Enhancing Technology Award, which was presented to him in Berlin Wednesday.

Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian and Microsoft are the two co-sponsors of the award, which was created in 2003 to encourage the development of technology that helps protect privacy, rather than threaten it. The winners are selected by a panel of leading technology researchers.

Commissioner Cavoukian, who has been advocating, for more than a decade, the importance of using technology to protect privacy, stressed that Gentry's breakthrough "demonstrates how technology can be an extremely effective privacy-enhancing tool."

Gentry solved a perplexing mathematical problem that has challenged researchers, ever since public-key encryption was invented several decades ago. The breakthrough, called "privacy homomorphism" or "fully homomorphic encryption," makes possible the deep and unlimited analysis of encrypted information - data that has been intentionally scrambled - without sacrificing confidentiality.

Gentry explains it much more simply, describing it as "delegating processing, without giving away access."

IBM said that potential applications for using the mathematical solution include strengthening the business model of "cloud computing" and protecting information contained in electronic medical records.

Commissioner Cavoukian applauds Mr. Gentry for his exceptional achievement!

For more information about the Privacy Enhancing Technology Awards, which are funded by Microsoft, visit http://petsymposium.org/award/

Phishing

2010-07-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with fishing, pish, or Phish.

An example of a phishing e-mail, disguised as an official e-mail from a (fictional) bank. The sender is attempting to trick the recipient into revealing confidential information by "confirming" it at the phisher's website. Note the misspelling of the words received and discrepancy. Such mistakes are common in most phishing emails. Also note that although the URL of the bank's webpage appears to be legitimate, it actually links to the phisher's webpage.

In the field of computer security, phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. Even when using server authentication, it may require tremendous skill to detect that the website is fake. Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users, and exploits the poor usability of current web security technologies. Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical security measures.

A phishing technique was described in detail in 1987, and the first recorded use of the term "phishing" was made in 1996. The term is a variant of fishing, probably influenced by phreaking, and alludes to baits used to "catch" financial information and passwords.

... read more story at Wikipedia.org

Ipsos Reid survey reveals 97% of Canadians aware of identity theft

2010-07-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

A majority believe it will happen to them at some point; few are taking proactive measures

July 14, 2010 - Protection Power

According to a new Ipsos Reid survey, almost all Canadians (97%) have heard of identity theft and 60% believe it will happen to them at some point in their lifetimes. Some 56% say they are very or extremely concerned regarding the risk of identity theft, especially in retail stores and online, but fewer (25%) recognize the risks at home and in institutional settings such as the workplace, school and the government – all of which hold large amounts of personal information.

In addition, the survey reveals that most Canadians do little to protect themselves from identity theft.

“While 72% of Canadians say they have taken steps to protect themselves, the variety of means cited as to how they are actually doing it is limited,” said Mark Wilkins, Vice-President, Ipsos Reid. “The destruction or shredding of hard copy documents is the step most often mentioned, which leaves many identity theft risks unaddressed like computer hacking, unsafe social networking or organizations losing confidential data.”

... read more story at Protection Power

Wireless Communications: A Strong Signal for a Stronger Canada

2010-07-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

Industry association stresses urgent need for more spectrum and removal of policy disincentives to continued investment

OTTAWA, July 15, 2010 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) has announced the release of "Wireless Communications: A Strong Signal for a Stronger Canada", the wireless industry's input to the Government of Canada's Digital Economy Strategy consultation. As the Government embarks on this critical process to define and refine those policy elements that will shape Canada's Digital Economy Strategy for the next five to seven years, CWTA has provided numerous recommendations that are essential in continuing to deliver a world-class wireless ecosystem that provides an increasingly important technological backbone for all aspects of life in Canada.

Growing Demands Need to be Met

Globally, mobile data traffic increased 160% between December 2008 and December 2009, and will double every year between 2010 and 2014. Canadian networks are far from immune to these pressures, given the exponential increase in Canadians' adoption and usage of advanced wireless devices in the next few years.

"To avoid network traffic jams that would otherwise compromise the economic and social benefits inherent in advanced wireless broadband networks, wireless carriers will be under constant pressure to increase the already heady pace of capital and spectrum investments," said CWTA President & CEO Bernard Lord. "As a critical element of its Digital Economy Strategy, the Government must act immediately to make available additional spectrum to help alleviate the impending network data crunch."

Among its key recommendations, CWTA stresses the urgent need for the Government to act expeditiously and immediately commence the much-anticipated licensing processes for the 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum. In relation to the 700 MHz licensing process, CWTA would clearly be concerned with any delays to the DTV transition and is encouraged by comments made by CRTC officials that the DTV transition date will not change. In addition, CWTA states that the Government must take all necessary steps to identify 500 MHz of additional spectrum that should be made available for commercial wireless services.

Ovum: Canadian Wireless Carriers Pay the Highest Spectrum License Fees in the G7

In another key recommendation, CWTA says it is imperative that the Government look for ways to reduce and remove policy and regulatory disincentives to network investment. Wireless carriers in Canada, and ultimately their customers, have to absorb disproportionately high regulatory costs. These costs act as a drag on the amount of capital available for required network investment and innovation.

A new report by Ovum Consulting confirms that Canadian wireless carriers pay some of the highest Government spectrum licence fees in the world - by far the highest in the G7, and second only to Australia in the developed world. The complete Ovum international comparison of spectrum licence fees is available at: http://www.cwta.ca/CWTASite/english/pdf/Ovum_SpectrumFees.pdf

In 2010, Canadian carriers will pay nearly $130 million in spectrum licence fees. If the 2009 US fee model were applied in Canada, the industry would pay less than $4 million in licence fees. In this regard, CWTA notes that the recent "Plan for a Digital Canada", issued by the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, recommends that "Industry Canada, in establishing policies to allocate and price spectrum, consider pricing regimes in other countries, especially those in the United States."

"Excessive and arbitrary fees, levies and other regulatory charges will only serve to redirect funding that could otherwise be spent on further network investment," said Mr. Lord. "Canadian consumers already absorb some of the highest Government spectrum licence fees in the world. And these fees are on top of the hundreds of millions of dollars that wireless carriers expect to pay in other regulatory fees and charges between 2010 and 2012, and on top of the billions they will need to raise to participate in upcoming spectrum auctions over the next 12 to 24 months."

Wireless Communications Make Canada Stronger

The wireless industry in Canada makes an undeniable contribution to the economy and social fabric of Canada. The industry delivers an economic benefit of some $39 billion annually, creates nearly 300,000 high-value jobs, and contributes numerous national social programs to enhance civic participation and public safety in communities across the country.

"The growth of the industry since its launch 25 years ago has prompted a communications revolution that impacts all Canadians," said Mr. Lord. "In a country as vast as Canada, any technology that brings us closer makes us stronger. This has never been truer than today, when Canada boasts some of the most advanced wireless networks in the world, including more of the fastest HSPA+ networks than any other country in the G8."

The complete CWTA submission is available at: http://www.cwta.ca/CWTASite/english/whatsnew.html

Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA)

CWTA is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada. It represents cellular, PCS, messaging, mobile radio, fixed wireless and mobile satellite carriers as well as companies that develop and produce products and services for the industry. (www.cwta.ca)

ProtectionPower.ca brings identity theft protection to Canadians

2010-06-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

Integrated solution from top providers helps Canadians recognize and defend against identity theft

OAKVILLE, Ontario, June 3, 2010 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - ProtectionPower.ca has launched a new suite of online tools to help Canadians educate and protect themselves against potential threats including identity theft, credit fraud, data loss, data breach, credit card theft, and many other online threats. Developed to combat the growing incidence of identity theft and the lack of practical tools to prevent it, ProtectionPower.ca offers an integrated service that has never before been available to Canadian consumers and includes identity monitoring.

According to a 2009 report by Canada's Privacy Commissioner, more than one in six Canadians has been a victim of identity theft, making it Canada's fastest growing crime. Given the huge toll identity theft can take - in terms of stress, lost time and money - it is vital that Canadians of all ages, professions and financial situations take steps to protect themselves.

"The escalating frequency of identity theft in Canada is worrisome, and even more disturbing is how few people are taking meaningful, proactive steps to protect themselves," explained Jamie Opalchuk, CEO of Opie Marketing Group Inc., the parent of ProtectionPower.ca. "We aggregated the best solutions available from top companies, and developed a highly trained identity theft education team as well as an extensive resource library, all to help Canadians identify and stop identity theft before it occurs."

ProtectionPower.ca is powered by industry leaders in credit, security and data protection services. Its partners include:

- TransUnion, one of Canada's two major credit bureaus offering credit reporting and credit monitoring solutions;

- SpotMyID, proactive identity monitoring, powered by Cyveillance, a global leader in cyber intelligence;

- Chartis, a world leading property-casualty and general insurance organization serving more than 40 million clients in over 160 countries and jurisdictions;

- STOPzilla and The Shield Deluxe by iS3, Inc., developer of leading anti-spyware solutions and ant-virus software; and

- Databanx, powered by Storagepipe, one of Canada's leading online data backup services.

About ProtectionPower.ca

Protection Power is a leading Canadian provider of personal information protection services. Founded by a team of security experts with a background in credit/financial services and technology, Protection Power offers the features and experience you need to stay in control of your financial life. ProtectionPower.ca offers four levels of protection, designed to meet all needs and budgets. From a free-for-life starter membership through the most comprehensive level of membership, ProtectionPower.ca offers advanced credit, identity and data protection services to all Canadians. For more information on identity theft, services available or to subscribe, visit www.protectionpower.ca.

Public beware - motor vehicle insurance scam in Ontario

2010-05-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

NORTH BAY, Ontario May 27, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (formerly Phonebusters) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning people who are seeking and obtaining automobile insurance, that fraudsters have been advertising fraudulent insurance premiums in Ontario newspapers and on websites.

Signs consumers need to be aware of are:

- Unusually low rates
- Everyone is accepted
- A phoney, invalid insurance slip is mailed or emailed to buyers after they have sent their premium through Western Union or Money Gram.

Complaints forwarded by victims of this automobile insurance scam confirm that the scammers have used company names such as "Arthur and Son", "Smith and Sons" and "Addison and Sons".

A scam of this nature is serious in that victims are not aware that their automobile insurance is not valid until they are involved in a collision or are stopped by police.

The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre is advising citizens to protect themselves by following a few safety measures when shopping for automobile insurance. Legitimate insurance companies and brokers have to be registered in Ontario and a consumer can verify a company through the following two sources of information:

1) All Ontario Insurance brokers have to be licensed with the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). You can contact RIBO at 416-365-3098 and 1-800-265-3097 or by visiting www.ribo.com

2) In Ontario, automobile insurance is regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Finance. In order to provide insurance, an insurance company must be registered with FSCO. You can contact FSCO at www.fsco.gov.on.ca

If you suspect you have or are about to purchase fraudulent insurance, please contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

You may also visit www.phonebuster.com to educate yourself against fraud and scams currently affecting Canadians.

www.opp.ca

The Dangers of Selling on eBay

2010-05-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

from Life123.com
By: Dachary Carey

Selling on eBay can be highly profitable, but it can also be a dangerous prospect. If you regularly sell on eBay, look out for these common fraud schemes:

Paying More than an Item Is Worth

One of the oldest tricks in the book is a request to pay you more than the item is worth, with the provision that you'll send the excess funds back to the buyer when you ship the item. In these cases, the funds you receive are fraudulent, either in the form of a fraudulent money order or check, or a stolen credit card.

Within a few days, but after you've shipped the item, the bank tells you the check is fraudulent and you're left without the funds and without the item. You can appeal to PayPal or eBay, but if you didn't follow the steps for seller protection, you might be out of luck.

Only Use Approved Payment Methods

Because of the dangers of fraud and scams, it's important to only use approved payment methods when you sell on eBay. Use PayPal or escrow.com to ensure the security of your transactions and to know you have protection in the event of fraud. If you use merchant accounts or other payment methods, eBay does not provide protection services and you may be out of luck if you get caught by a fraudulent transaction.

Watch out for Shill Bidders

In a real-world auction, a shill bidder is someone hired by the seller to drive up the price of an item. On eBay, a slightly more sophisticated version of this scam operates. Multiple shill bidders coordinate to drive the price of an item up, then withdraw their high bids at the last minute so a low bid wins the item.

For example, if one person bids $10 on the item, and the next person bids $400, no one else is going to bid on the item. Moments before the auction concludes, the $400 bid is withdrawn. You're left with a $10 bid on an item, and no other bidders. If you notice a drastic jump in bidding, do some research on your bidders to ensure they have good feedback and are legitimate buyers.

Unusual Requests

eBay fraud comes in many forms. If you get an unusual request from a buyer, or the buyer is located overseas, carefully verify the identity of your buyer and the legitimacy of the request. Make sure you follow all of eBay's seller protection policies. Look for bidders with good feedback to ensure you're not dealing with a fraudulent buyer. When in doubt, ask for verification or contact the eBay support team.

E-mail Phishing

Don't click on links in e-mails from eBay buyers. Use your eBay account to respond to questions to ensure you're not visiting a fraudulent Web site that will load viruses or keyloggers onto your computer. Some fraudsters send e-mails that look like they're coming from eBay, but if you click links contained in these e-mails, you'll actually be directed to a third-party Web site. There, you may have viruses or keyloggers loaded onto your computer, or you may be prompted to enter sensitive personal information to "verify" your account. Don't do it. These are the hallmarks of an identity-theft scam.

"Crime Prevention is Everyone's Responsibility"

2010-05-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

ORILLIA, Ontario, May 7, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - "Everyone in Ontario can play an important role in making our community safer," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said today, as Police Week in Ontario commenced.

"Community safety is everyone's responsibility and crime prevention is everyone's business," states Commissioner Fantino. "Our partnerships with our communities are essential in preventing crime and making our citizens safer. The police can't do it alone; we need the support of every resident of Ontario. Police Week is a great opportunity to engage people in our communities on topics such as crime prevention programs and community policing."

The theme of Police Week 2010 is "Building Partnerships for a Safer Community." Police Week runs from May 9 - 15 in Ontario and is dedicated to increasing community awareness and recognition of policing services and strengthening partnerships between police and the community. Police Week 2010 will be celebrated by OPP Detachments throughout Ontario.

"Police Week is an opportunity to show our appreciation to our police officers and their community partners for all they do to keep our communities safe," said Rick Bartoluccci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. "Ontario is safer and stronger thanks to our police services and the support of the government and all Ontarians."

For more information on Police Week activities in your community please contact your local OPP Detachment.

More details about community safety and crime prevention may be found on-line at: www.opp.ca

IDENTITY THEFT - Protect Yourself from Becoming a Victim

2010-03-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, March 29, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - By remembering that 'knowledge is power,' Ontario Provincial Police say consumers can and should do more to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

Typical cases involving identity theft include situations where government documents such as drivers' licenses, health cards, Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) cards and birth certificates have been forged or otherwise obtained. When identity is compromised, the consequences have a profound impact on individuals, businesses, government funds, and the public, in general.

Some basic steps consumers can take to better protect themselves from becoming a victim include never giving out personal information over the phone or over the internet and carry only the identification documents you need.

The OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau' Identity Crimes Unit also now has stronger legislative tools with which to charge criminals for possessing the personal information of others and prevent it from being used for fraud or theft.

"Identity theft is the starting point for many types of crimes - credit and debit card fraud, mortgage fraud, and account takeovers among other things. Savvy criminals can manipulate technology in order to obtain documents that will support their crimes." - Deputy Commissioner Vince Hawkes, Ontario Provincial Police, Provincial Commander, Investigations/Organized Crime Command "

"Combating identity crimes requires the collaborative efforts of the financial industry, law enforcement, government agencies, and consumers. Consumers need to take steps that make it less likely for them to become a victim of identity theft." - Inspector Don Perron, Ontario Provincial Police, Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

OPP IDENTITY CRIMES UNIT - BACKGROUND

OPP Identity Crimes Unit (ICU) resides within the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau in the Investigations and Organized Crime Command.

OPP ICU investigates forgery, identity theft and consumer fraud. The unit also takes the lead role in investigations into organized criminal groups carrying out fraudulent schemes involving the fabrication, trafficking and use of forged payment cards, forged cheques and counterfeit currency.

The ICU works in conjunction with municipal police services, OPP regions, as well as national and international law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, to identify and apprehend organized crime groups, locally and on a global basis.

IDENTITY CRIMES

Identity crimes include the acquisition of information or documents confirming identity of a living or deceased person, in order to perpetrate offences under the Criminal Code of Canada or any other statute. Typical cases involving identity theft include situations where government documents such as drivers' licenses, health cards, Social Insurance Number (SIN) cards and birth certificates have been forged or otherwise obtained. When your identity is compromised, the consequences have a profound impact on individuals, businesses, government funds, and the public, in general. Being a victim can affect your job, reputation, credit rating, benefits, or access to your own business and/or financial accounts.

The Canadian Bankers Association reported a loss of almost 500-million dollars in relation to the theft of payment card data in 2008.

In October 2009, legislation was passed by the Government of Canada to combat identity theft. This legislation provides law enforcement agencies with the tools and the ability to charge criminals for possessing the personal information of others before it is used for fraud or theft.

For more information, visit your financial institution's website, or contact the Canadian Bankers Association, Interac, Equifax, or TransUnion.

The OPP Identity Crimes Unit also has a number of tips and contacts to help you avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. To get more information, click on this link.

IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION TIPS

When impostors co-opt your name, your Social Insurance Number (SIN), your credit card number, or some other piece of personal information without your knowledge for their use -- it's a crime, plain and simple. Consumers can take some basic steps to better protect themselves from becoming a victim of identity theft includes the following:

- NEVER give out personal information on the phone, through mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the transaction or are absolutely certain with whom you are speaking.

- CARRY only the Identity Documents you need. For example: When was the last time you were asked to produce your Social Insurance Card? Many of us have carried it in our wallets or purses for many years. The Social Insurance Card is identification that is very useful for criminals.

- NEVER throw personal documents in the garbage without shredding them first. Identity thieves routinely pick through garbage and recycling bins. Documents to be shredded include credit applications or offers, insurance forms, and physician statements.

- ALWAYS check your bank and credit card statements to ensure that they are accurate, and make sure they arrive on time. Notify your bank immediately if the statements stop arriving at their normal time as they could have been diverted to another address by a criminal.

- NEVER give out your Personal Identification Number (PIN) over the phone or on the Internet. Financial institutions WILL NEVER ask you for your PIN over the phone or via the Internet.

- CHANGE your passwords regularly. Use hard-to-guess passwords or a combination of letters and numbers. And never share your password with anyone.

- ALWAYS ensure you're in a safe environment when on the internet. Look for the closed-lock or unbroken-key icons on your browser when entering your credit card number or other sensitive data. If you don't see the unbroken key or closed lock, or if the key is broken or the padlock is open, your transaction is not being securely transmitted across the Internet.

- CLEAR your browser's cache after visiting secure sites to ensure nobody else can view confidential information you may have transmitted.

- INSTALL and maintain a firewall to guard against unwanted access to your computer and make sure you have the latest anti-virus software installed.

- BE suspicious of spam e-mails. Criminals will use e-mails to 'phish' for your personal information. Do not use the links provided by 'phishing' e-mails. They could direct you to a criminal's website that appears similar to that of a legitimate financial institution.

- ALWAYS manually direct yourself to your financial institution's website if conducting on-line banking.

- CONDUCT credit checks on yourself periodically to ensure that your Credit Profile accurately reflects your situation and report any discrepancies immediately.

OPP Reminds you to Protect Yourself from Telemarketing/Email Fraud

2010-03-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

March is Fraud Prevention Month

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 18, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), in cooperation with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), is notifying the public of a recent increase in the reported number of fraud attempts using the traditional "Emergency Scam".

The Emergency Scam has operated for years as a telemarketing scam throughout North America. Fraudsters contact potential victims while posing as a family member or friend in urgent need of cash. Often the scenario involves an accident or arrest while travelling abroad, with a request that cash be sent through a money transfer company, such as Western Union or Money Gram. In the past, fraudsters have successfully targeted grandparents, giving the scam its nickname "the Grandparents Scam".

In a recent variation of this scam, compromised contact lists from hijacked email accounts are used to send the potential victim an "urgent" email request for money from a friend or relative with whom they have a correspondence. Common themes continue to be hospitalization or imprisonment while away from home. The friend or relative is unaware that their account has been used to send out these requests to everyone on their contact list.

According to CAFC statistics for Ontario, in 2009 fraudsters using the Emergency Scam made 225 failed attempts but were successful 61 times which resulted in the victims being defrauded over $230,000.

By the end of February this year, there have been a reported 96 failed attempts but 23 successful scams reported in Ontario. Fraudsters have garnered a total in excess of $88,000 from Ontarians thus far in 2010. The CAFC estimates that these frauds reported to police only reflect 5% of the actual number of cases.

The OPP urges people to verify any and all requests for money, and to report suspected fraud to the CAFC at 888-495-8501.

FRAUD...Recognize it...Report it...Stop it.

OPP Reminds You to Protect Yourself from Investment Schemes

2010-03-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

March is Fraud Prevention Month

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 12, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Many people seek out alternative investment products that are not recognized or supplied by accredited investment brokers. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Anti Rackets Branch reminds you to be wary of investment schemes that may defraud you of your investment money. Investors should always exercise caution and carry out due diligence before making investment decisions.

There are many different investment schemes operating in Ontario - often with international connections. Many of these schemes lure victims by promising high rates of return. The perpetrators are usually vague about the details of where the money is invested. They may tell the potential investor that providing too much information may result in getting under-cut and loss of the investment opportunity. In fact, the investor's money is usually not invested, but moved to offshore banks that don't honour our banking regulations or procedures. Usually, the money invested in these schemes is not recoverable.

A prevalent example of a fraudulent investment scheme is called a "Ponzi". Primary investors are paid exceptional dividends as "interest cheques" or sometimes cash. These unbelievably high returns are not, in fact, actual dividends, but come from the deposits of new investors as they come on board.

The perpetrators of Ponzi schemes can keep them going through a variety of ruses, such as:

- paying "dividends" to the early investors. The initial investors become the best promoters of these schemes as they tell friends about the fantastic returns they are getting;
- providing names of investors, who have received dividends, to lend the scheme credibility and keep it going;
- giving the investors a receipt or promissory note on a regular basis, claiming that the investment has grown;
- providing a copy of a prospectus, or business profile, that exaggerates the success of the investment company, and;
- telling investors that their capital is guaranteed by collateral, such as a life insurance policy, when no such guarantee exists.

This self-propelled scheme attracts others and keeps going until the perpetrator has either accumulated his target amount and flees with the profits, has lost the investors' money in other business ventures, or is incarcerated for similar crimes. These types of schemes can go on for several years before the investors realize that they have been defrauded.

If someone is offering you more than the bank is willing to pay, then there is always a risk. The greater the dividend promised, the greater the risk. "If someone is offering you an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, then it probably is" says OPP Detective Inspector Bernie Murphy, Officer in Charge of Anti-Rackets Branch. "No one is immune to fraud. Common sense is your best protection. Always do your research, talk to others and never be rushed into making an investment decision" added Murphy.

For more information on schemes involved with Investment Fraud, log in to the Ministry of Government Services website www.ontario.ca/consumerprotection.

FRAUD...Recognize it...Report it...Stop it.

www.opp.ca

Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/OPP_News

Prevent Identity Theft with these 20 Questions

2010-02-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

from IdentityTheftFixes.com

Can you pass this test? If you can, it means you are doing what you can to prevent identity theft

There are precautions everyone needs to take to prevent identity theft. Following these precautions does not guarantee safety, but they show good steps in the right direction. Take this identity theft quiz and see how you score in the war to prevent identity theft. Count how many times you answer "yes."

1. I protect my wallet or purse. I never leave them unattended.

2. I prevent 'prying eyes' from seeing my PIN number when using my debit card in public.

3. I make sure my home is locked and secure when I leave.

4. I don't give out 'unnecessary' information when filling out forms and applying for job positions.

5. I don't file for warranties or enter contests via postcards. I always put postcards in envelopes so my information is secure.

6. I cross out my credit card number, bank account number, and social security number when turning in receipts for travel expenses or charitable donations.

7. I do not routinely carry my checkbook.

8. I limit the number of credit cards and personal information I carry when leaving the house.

9. I limit entering Internet surveys, questionnaires, and electronic mailing lists.

10. I don't put my driver's license number or social security number on checks.

11. I don't carry my social security card in my wallet or purse.

12. I secure personal information at home so it isn't accessible to workers, house cleaners, babysitters, and children's friends.

13. I stop mail service when away from home.

14. I use a locked mailbox for incoming and outgoing mail.

15. I never give out personal information such as social security numbers or bank account numbers over the phone.

16. When asked for personal information, I question why the information is needed.

17. I shred or burn all personal information identity thieves could use to steal my identity.

18. I check my monthly credit card statements to check for accuracy.

19. I check my monthly bank statements for accuracy.

20. I check my credit report yearly with the three major credit-reporting agencies.

Did you pass? You did if you were able to say 'yes' to all twenty of these questions. The questions you answered 'no' to are your weak spots. Repair these weak spots and prevent identity theft. For more information on protecting yourself, check out a program like LifeLock. Preventing identity theft doesn't have to be difficult. Pass this test, and you are better able to prevent identity theft.

Email Viruses - Stop Computer Viruses In Their Tracks

2010-02-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

...information from Internet ScamBusters

Note: This information isn't meant to scare you. It's meant to educate you, so that you can defend yourself properly.

What Is a Computer Virus?

Like viruses that infect living beings, computer viruses infect your computer. They are software, and are often attached to other software or documents you might receive. When you run the virus's software or the file the virus has infected, the virus can infect your computer's software.

There are many types of viruses and terms for them, but we'll use the general term 'virus' to make things easy.

Like the flu virus, a computer virus must spread from host to host to survive. When we get the flu, we cough and sneeze, and tiny particles carrying the virus spread the flu to other people.

With computer viruses, the virus is designed to spread from your computer to other computers. Here are some of the most common ways they spread:

1. Once the virus has infected your system, it may automatically send out emails containing more copies of the virus using the address book in your email program. This type of virus is called an Internet "Worm," because it is a self-propagating virus. For example, an Internet worm crippled tens of thousands of computers and slowed down parts of the Internet on the weekend of January 29, 2003.

2. If the virus is a macro virus (attached to a Microsoft Word document, for example), it may attach itself to any document you create or modify. If you send another document to someone by email, the virus goes along with it.

3. Sometimes viruses masquerade as a fun program (like an electronic greeting card) that secretly infects your system. If you pass the program along, not realizing that it contains a virus, you will be transmitting the virus manually to your friends, family, or colleagues.

Trojan Horses are closely related to computer viruses, but they differ in that they do not attempt to replicate themselves. More specifically, a Trojan Horse performs some undesired -- yet intended -- action while, or in addition to, pretending to do something else. A common example is a fake login program, which collects account information and passwords by asking for this info just like a normal login program does.

Many computer viruses are malicious -- in other words, they can erase your files or lock up whole computer systems. Other computer viruses are more benign -- they don't do any direct damage other than by spreading themselves locally or throughout the Internet.

Regardless, computer viruses should always be treated.

... get more information at CyberSecurity for Seniors

Ontario Provincial Police warn public to beware of fraudulent Internet scam

2010-02-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

ORILLIA, Ontario, February 3, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Anti-Rackets Branch is investigating an Internet-based fraud scheme and warning the public to exercise vigilance when dealing in business transactions with unknown individuals over the Internet and/or by telephone.

The investigation has revealed that an Ontario resident recently applied online to a job advertisement for an Accounting Assistant/Payment Representative position posted at an employment centre.

The position professed to involve working from home by contacting legitimate companies via the Internet on behalf of a fraudulent company and receiving cheques purportedly from these companies that were mailed to the new employee by the fraudulent employer. A company representative then instructed the victim via email or by telephone to deposit the cheques to her personal bank account and retain a 10 per cent fee for her work and the remainder of the money was to be deposited to a specified account or sent via email money transfer.

Fortunately, both the victim and her bank reported this matter to police when they became suspicious of the excessive amount on one of the cheques.

The investigation also revealed that the cheques received by the victim originated from legitimate Canadian businesses and the OPP have since linked these cheques to reported incidents of cheque theft and cheque duplication.

The OPP is warning the public to refrain from engaging in any business transactions with individuals they do not know, over the Internet, even if they provide a telephone number and email address.

If you have any information or if you are a victim of this scam, please report it to your local police service or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre at: 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.recol.ca.

"The very first law in advertising is to avoid the concrete promise and cultivate the delightfully vague." - Bill Cosby

Privacy Commissioner launches new Facebook probe

2010-01-28T07:21:00.000-08:00

New complaint highlights dissatisfaction with privacy changes that the popular social networking site has been making in the wake of last summer's in-depth investigation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

OTTAWA, January 27, 2010 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - In response to a new public complaint, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is once again launching an investigation into Facebook, the social networking site whose privacy policies and practices were the subject of a comprehensive probe by her Office last summer.

The complaint focuses on a tool introduced by Facebook in mid-December 2009, which required users to review their privacy settings. The complainant alleges that the new default settings would have made his information more readily available than the settings he had previously put in place.

"The individual's complaint mirrors some of the concerns that our Office has heard and expressed to Facebook in recent months," said Elizabeth Denham, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner who spearheaded the original investigation and follow-up.

"Some Facebook users are disappointed by certain changes being made to the site - changes that were supposed to strengthen their privacy and the protection of their personal information."

In July 2009, Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart released findings of an in-depth examination of the privacy issues raised by the California-based site, which now claims 350 million users worldwide.

Key concerns highlighted in the report related to Facebook's transparency and clarity - specifically, the need to better explain how it handles the personal information in its care. The report also recommended that Facebook provide users with increased control over their personal information. In August, following intensive discussions, Facebook agreed to modify its site in ways that would address the Commissioner's concerns.

Since then, however, changes to the site's privacy information, settings and tools have sparked criticism from users who feel that personal information posted to the site is, in some instances, even more exposed now than before.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will investigate the complaint it has received, while continuing to follow up with Facebook as it introduces new changes to its site. The company committed last August to resolving within a year all of the concerns raised in the first investigation report.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman, advocate and guardian of privacy and the protection of personal information rights of Canadians.

Joint force operation leads to arrests for debit card fraud

2010-01-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

TORONTO, January 22, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The continuing joint force partnership to combat credit debit and credit card frauds between the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) - Identity Crimes Unit and Durham Regional Police Major Crime - Fraud Unit (DRPS) has resulted in the arrest of seven males and two females for point-of-sale terminal "pin pad" tampering.

The investigation which began in the Parry Sound area in November 2009 identified a group of suspects who were responsible for numerous incidents of credit card terminal tampering across the Greater Toronto area and Ontario. The investigation determined these suspects were also responsible for the use of the fraudulent debit card data collected from the tampered "pin pads". The suspects targeted various retail establishments which conduct credit and debit card transactions without the knowledge of the various retailers.

On January 21, 2010 investigators from the OPP OCEB-Identity Crimes Unit and Durham Regional Police assisted by Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police and Canada Border Services executed nine search warrants across the Greater Toronto area. As a result of the warrants, investigators arrested nine persons and seized stolen point-of-sale terminal "pin pads", hundreds of forged debit cards encoded with stolen debit card data, computer equipment used to encode magnetic stripes and over $100,000 in cash.

Investigators have laid charges under the new Identity Theft legislation brought into Canadian law on January 8, 2010.

Police along with the banking industry continue to work together to detect and prevent these crimes, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year in Canada.

Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Doug Cousens of the OPP Identity Crimes Unit at 1-905-671-6883 or Detective Jeff Caplan of the DRPS Major Crime - Fraud Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5702.

Police caution the public to always be alert and aware when using their respective bank debit cards.

Anonymous information can be sent to Crime Stoppers where tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

How to Detect Online Scams

2010-01-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

from HowStuffWorks.com
by Jonathan Strickland

"Hey buddy, come over here. Listen, keep this quiet. I've got a friend overseas who's trying to come here. He's filthy rich but he has to go through a lot of red tape on his side and ours. I was hoping you could help me out by spotting me a few thousand dollars so that we could grease the wheels a little. Don't worry -- once he's over here he'll repay your investment 100 times over. What do you say?"

If a random stranger approached you on the street and said something like that, you'd probably ignore him and keep walking. You might even report him to the local police. Who would trust someone they had never met with that much money? But an online scam very similar to the scenario above has fooled thousands of people into giving away millions of dollars to the scam artists. It seems that people who might be able to smell a rat in a real life encounter become more gullible while online... read more at HowStuffWorks.com

Scammers plan to clear out your gift card balance

2010-01-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

from Scambusters.org

After the "season of giving" some of us can find ourselves
with a surplus of gift cards from stores where we can't or
don't want to shop.

The Internet provides the answer. Why not sell them -- usually
at a discount -- to someone who can use them?

Looks like a win-win situation -- until you encounter the gift
card scam artists.

Here's how they work: You offer your card on an auction or
classified ad site. A "buyer" asks for an electronic snapshot
of your balance as proof of its value.

They direct you to a bogus site, usually in the format of "My"
followed by the store name, followed by "Giftcard.com" (e.g.
"MyStoreNameGiftcard.com"), where they say you can get this
snapshot.

As soon as you key your card details in, the scammer has them
and will use or transfer the balance as quick as a flash.
That's it. You won't get your money back.

So, if you do have gift cards from Christmas -- or any other
time -- to sell, we recommend you use one of the sites
specially set up for these transactions (do a Google search
for "gift card exchange" -- but, remember, always double check
the credentials of any company you deal with). And recognize
even the legit exchanges often charge a hefty fee.

Or you could just "regift" them.

10 Top Scams of 2009 and 2010

2010-01-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

from Scambusters.org

With a likely global toll of more than $1 billion lost to Internet and phone scammers in 2009, it's time to review our Top 10 scam predictions for the past year and throw forward our thinking on what's going to change in 2010.

Our predictions, (unscientifically) confirmed by the feedback we get from the hundreds of thousands of Scambusters subscribers and visitors, official surveys and the regular news reports we scan, once again came pretty close to the mark.

Identity theft and phishing remained the biggest source of scams in 2009, with, as we predicted, a stronger-than-ever showing from economy-related scams, which came in at Number 2.

Looking to the future, we expect many of the old patterns to repeat themselves, though often using new approaches to try to catch us out.

But there's also a growing threat that we've seen more and more evidence in 2009 -- from the "planting" of viruses and spyware -- and there's one newcomer to our list of Top 10 scams for 2010.

Let's take a closer look...at Scambusters.org