Fraud and Scam Prevention: Do You Know What to Look For?

There are many types of fraud and scams that you will come across in your life. As a student, you may be more exposed to certain tactics. The best defense against fraud is to be knowledgeable and aware of these situations.

Here are some general tips:

• Share your personal information only with companies you know and trust
• Do not provide personal information to solicitors who made the initial contact
• Old statements, bills and credit/debit cards should be shredded before you dispose of them

“Phishing” scammers will often pose as a financial institution and ask you to disclose personal or financial information over email. The email may appear legitimate and mention that there’s been a security breach. These emails will include links to provide your information.

Here are some tips for identifying phishing scams:

• Banks and governments will never ask for your personal information through email
• If you are unsure of the legitimacy, search the message for bizarre links or email addresses
• Do not reply to or open links from a suspected scammer

Learn about how to identify and handle more types of scams at the McMaster Student Success Centre’s Fraud Prevention website.

Providing students with the tools they need to protect themselves is a priority for Mac’s Money Centre. They can be reached at money@mcmaster.ca.