The Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) are reminding residents to stay alert to scams that can happen online or over the phone. Their message comes during Cyber Security Awareness Month, which takes place every October. This year’s theme is “Get Cyber Safe – For Future You.”
Online scams and cyber threats continue to change, and criminals are using new tactics to try to trick Canadians. The CAFC says that one of the best ways to protect yourself is by keeping your devices up to date. Updating your phones, computers, routers, and apps can help stop fraudsters from accessing your personal information. Criminals often target older systems with security weaknesses. If they manage to get your data, they can impersonate you, open accounts, apply for credit, or access government benefits in your name.
The CAFC encourages everyone to turn on automatic updates, use strong and unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication on important accounts, and limit the amount of personal information stored on their devices. It’s also important to update routers and smart home devices and to regularly check your bank accounts and credit reports for unusual activity.
The CAFC says that spending a few minutes updating your devices today can prevent months of stress if your identity is stolen later.
Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of cybercrime or fraud should contact local police and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by calling 1-888-495-8501. Even if you have not lost money, reporting suspicious activity can help prevent others from being targeted.