Fraudsters, betting among other things on love scams to line their pockets, were busy last year with a record harvest of $269 million across the country, including $30 million in Quebec.
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According to data provided to Journal by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center (CAFC), the sums stolen in 2021 more than doubled compared to the amounts declared in 2020. The invoice had then been $ 102.9 million on Canadian soil.
However, this amount does not include fraud reported by foreigners who have been scammed in Canada. The loot then climbs to $379 million.
The second most lucrative theft is the dating schemes that resulted in financial losses in Quebec of $4.5 million.
This is a jump of 8%, while the number of victims reached 196. It must be said that because of the pandemic, many people found themselves more often alone at home and in front of their computer.
“Fraudsters use advanced methods to appear legitimate and trick people,” warns the CAFC on its website. In Canada, $50.19 million was lost in fake online virtual relationships.
Yesterday, Valentine’s Day, the Autorité des marchés financiers even issued a warning regarding friendly or romantic fraud on the Web.
“Scammers prey on people of all ages and demographics. No one is immune,” said Louis Morisset, CEO of the AMF, in a press release.
In 2021, the CAFC says it has seen an increase in the number of cryptocurrency investment claims for this type of fraud.
Questionable investments at the top
At the top of the scams that have been the costliest are investment fraud. They resulted in losses of $113.46 million, including $13.17 million in Quebec, where 319 cases were reported.
“Investors victimized by this fraud, however, lose all or most of their money,” notes the CAFC
According to a recent NOVIPRO/Léger survey, more than half of ransomware victims agreed to pay hackers’ demands in 2021. Extortion-related scams reached $1.4 million in the province.
A survey by accounting firm MNP indicates that among companies affected by financial fraud, 54% have had to respond to an attack more than once.
Merchandise
In third place on the list of frauds, we find those related to goods, for example, for fake show tickets. More than $3.6 million was stolen in Quebec in 2021, compared to $2.21 million in 2020.
In Canada, phishing comes third.
In 2021, the CAFC processed nearly 73,450 reports related to fraud across the country and originating outside companies or citizens, including 10,479 in Quebec.
In recent months, the organization has also handled numerous identity theft reports, the majority of which came from Quebec, or 9,986 cases, compared to 5,403 the previous year.
