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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2015-08-26, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Protecting yourself against fraud HFAN to Iaunch Food Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Two weeks ago the Huron County OPP were notified of a Central Huron woman who had been the victim of fraud. The woman said she had received a phone call from a man claiming to be a bank fraud investigator with the RCMP. She was told her credit card had been compromised when someone sent a wire trans- fer of $1,100 to an overseas party. The victim was lead to believe the website the scammer directed her to was her legitimate online banking page. The scammer told her they could deposit a minimum of $2,100 so she was to use a money transfer service to transfer $980 back to them, which the victim did. The scammer told her that the first transfer didn't work and to wire an additional $980. This scam is known as "phishing" or "brand spoofing': Scammers will create emails or websites that are similar to authentic banking websites leading victims to believe they are being contacted by the actual banking institution. The scammers will then ask for money or personal information allowing them to commit fraud. Annette Maurice from the Canadian Anti -Fraud Centre advises that no one should send personal infor- mation or money to anyone not independently verified. She said that any legitimate company would send you a letter confirming its request. "If it's a real company there would be no problem in sending you a letter for their request," said Maurice. Maurice also said even if the name of the bank shows up on caller ID to ask them if you can return the call using the number of the back of the card not a num- ber the caller provides. Maurice suggested that if you receive incoming calls from numbers you don't recognize to let them go to your voicemail. If they do leave a message call the number on the back of the card not the number or email the caller provided. "If you do answer and you realize it's a stranger you don't know, don't give them anything, no matter who they claim to be," Mau- rice said. Maurice said another common fraud the centre is seeing recently is the Can- ada Revenue Agency scam. People are receiving calls from scammers claiming they owe back taxes and if they don't pay they will be arrested right away. "That's not the way the government operates," Maurice said. Huron County OPP Con- stable Jamie Stanley said that in the past the CRA scammers have requested gift cards as a form of payment. Another version of that fraud is when scammers obtain personal banking information after claiming the victim is owed money by the CRA. "These scammers often run a scam for a little while and they'll switch it up or change it up ever so slightly," said Stanley. Stanley said that the OPP routinely sends out scam reports to keep people informed so they are equipped to identify and handled potential fraud. Being aware if the best defense against fraud. If someone has sent money or given personal informa- tion it is often hard for police to investigate and get to the source of the scam because many times it's out of the country, said Stanley. "We really want to ensure that people have as much information as possible, that they have the knowl- edge of the scams that are taking place out there. It's really about awareness from our perspective," said Stanley. Despite warnings people continue to become victims. Stanley said part of the prob- lem is the scammers con- tinue to evolve, change their tactics and get better at mimicking legitimate com- panies and agencies. "[The scammers] are not amateurs. In most cases they're very convincing," said Stanley. Often the people being scammed are in a vulnerable population, meaning some- body that lives on their own, doesn't have family around or someone who might go against their better judg- ment because of a difficult financial situation, said Stanley. Stanley said one of the best ways to protect yourself from these types of scams is to slow down and take your time because often scammers want you to act quickly. Consulting with family members or friends for another perspective may also help potential victims spot a scam. If you believe you're the victim of fraud you can report it to the OPP by call- ing 1-888-310-1122. For more information on fraud contact the Canadian Anti -Fraud Centre at 1-888- 495-8501 or online at www. antifraudcentre-centreanti- fraude.ca. Reminder! Due to the Holiday on Mon., Sept.7 LABOUR DAY, the editorial & advertising deadline for the Wednesday September 9 issue is THURS. SEPT. 3 AT 2PM News Record 53 Albert Street 519-482-3443 Charter in September Dave Flaherty Postmedia Network Next month, the Huron Food Action Network (HFAN) will celebrate the culmination of a project two years in the making. The organization will pub- licly launch its Huron County Food Charter with a special event on Saturday, Sept. 26. The celebration will take place at the Bayfield Town Hall. "In the same way a band would have a launch party for a new album, we are having a launch party- a celebration - for the charter," said Nathan Swartz, food system co-ordina- tor with HFAN. "A lot of people put work into (the charter) and itwill be really nice to celebrate that work and have a positive outlook moving forward," Swartz said. The evening will feature entertainment by local band The Blacklist Social, appetizers from Cait's Catering and wine from Maelstrom Wineries, local businesses Swartz said strive to source their ingredients from Huron County. It will also feature craft beers from Bruce and Grey counties. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by contact Swartz athuronfoodac- tionetwork@gmail.com or call- ing 519-441-8174, or online at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ food -charter -launch -party -tick ets-18207081872?aff=etbevent Swartz said there is a lot of anticipation for the event. "Everyone I've talked to is really excited and they are noticing a wave of desire for local food, not just through HFAN, but with other organiza- tions. We are going to see more and more events like this." If you had the urge to PUNCH DALE IN THE FACE Please respond with Your reason(s) to: Clinton News Record Attn Dale, Box 39 Clinton ON NOM 1L0 HFAN formed in late -2013 with the intention of addressing food -related issues, including healthy food, sustainable food systems and food waste, to name a few. "We want to get an idea how people see food sustainability as well as food justice, Swartz said. The notion of "food justice" refers to the goal of everyHuron County resident having access to healthy, quality locally grown food. The charter also looks at how the food industrywill deal with weather issues such as droughts or excessive rain. "We consulted with farmers on what crops or livestock they were going to produce - how the seed is harvested, how the crop is taken in, where and when the animals are slaugh- tered," he said. "It's totally all encompassing.' A number of food industry representatives were invited to partake in the development of the charter, including farmers, restaurant owners, consumers and officials. HFAN received help from Huron County's 10 municipali- ties as well. A number of meetings were held over the past year -and -a - half to help mold the document "As we were going through the meetings, one thing every- one was impressed with was the amount of expertise and knowledge available. There are so many food experts and when you get them together in one room it is an amazing amount of accumulated knowledge," Swartz said. The charter will serve as a guide to help HFAN and its partners implement some of the changes they have identi- fied as priorities. "That will be a much bigger project;" Swartz said. For more information on HFAN and its Food Charter, visit huronfoodaction.ca HIGHLAND DANCING Boys and Girls (Ages 3 & Up) g MondayNights starting Sept 14th Memorial Arena, Goderich For info call Christine Hladki 519-828-3261 or email laingschool@hotmail.com