The number of reported scams and frauds occurring in Manitoba continues to rise, stealing tens of millions of dollars from the wallets and bank accounts of hundreds – if not thousands – of Manitobans each year.

With this week marking the start of Fraud Prevention Month, the Manitoba RCMP is reminding the public that fraudsters work in a myriad of ways to separate individuals from their money.

“Fraud is increasingly a problem in Manitoba, across Canada and around the world,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Cavanagh, of the Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Services Cyber and Financial Unit. “We encourage Manitobans of all ages to remain vigilant and do your research before making payments or sharing banking and other personal information, particularly when individuals you don’t know are reaching out in person or online for any reason.”

In its latest annual report, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre notes that Manitobans were defrauded out of approximately $31 million dollars in 2024 – and that’s just from the scams that were reported. The actual amount of money taken is believed to be exponentially higher than what’s reported, as only five to 10 per cent of victims actually come forward to law enforcement agencies.

Frauds can be relatively basic and straight forward, such as phishing texts asking for payment information to receive a package you never ordered. They can also be increasingly elaborate, including the use of artificial intelligence to create deep fakes that legitimize investment scams. The most prevalent frauds reported in Manitoba include identity theft, false and misleading service-related promotions and scams posing as investment opportunities.

While the elderly are perceived as being more vulnerable to scams, scammers target people of all ages. The average dollar amount lost by Canadian victims in their 40s is almost as much as those in their 80s.

Some basic tips to avoid becoming victimized:

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Strangers offering large inheritances or lottery winnings in exchange for hundreds of dollars in “processing fees” aren’t legitimate. Neither are the people trying to buy the item you’ve posted online for sale for more than the asking price.
  • Be wary of strangers contacting you to ask for money. Phone calls, texts and emails from people or organizations you don’t know that are pressuring you to buy an item or service you never previously expressed an interest in should be treated with caution.
  • Protect your personal information. Don’t readily share personal details with strangers, particularly over the phone or online. Be cautious about what you share on social media, too.
  • Verify, verify, verify. The grandchild calling you out of the blue for bail money may not be real. The person that’s threatening to cut your cable if you don’t pay the overdue bill you didn’t know existed may not be from the telecommunications company. Ask pointed questions to confirm identity and, if need be, call people or companies back at known phone numbers.

If you or someone you know has been defrauded, report it to your local RCMP detachment or police service. Your report can help identify links, catch criminals and prevent further frauds.

Please also report it to the National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System, which serves as a central repository of fraud and cybercrime reports from across the country. Reports can be filed at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.