Con games and sweet-talk crimes – Pigeon drop:
This scheme accounts for more than half of the confidence games reported to the police. The swindlers claim to have found a large sum of money and offer to share it with you. You are asked for your bank. The swindlers take the “good faith” money and give you a phony address where you are to collect your share of the found money. You never hear from them again.

Bank Examiner:
A phony bank examiner contacts you and asks for your help in catching a dishonest bank employee. He asks you to withdraw a specified amount of cash from your account so that he/she may check the serial numbers. After turning over the money to the examiner, you never hear from him again.

Door-to-door sales:
Many door-to-door sales are not legitimate. Provincial laws protect you against quick sales at your door. Enquire and be sure.

Mail fraud schemes, Consumer frauds:
Beware of contests that require you to put up money to win, even if there is a guarantee that you will be a winner.

Home improvement offers:
Beware of tempting home improvement offers, made through the mail or on the spot. These offers are a popular type of swindle.

Chain-referral schemes:
These schemes offer a commission for buying one item and selling additional ones to friends. The products are usually over-priced and should be avoided.

Retirement estates:
Any retirement estates offered at conspicuously low prices to “lucky” individuals are usually fraudulent and should be avoided.

Business opportunities:
Business opportunities and work-at-home schemes, which promise you high profits after a substantial investment of registration fee, are often fraudulent.

Medical fraud:
Fake laboratory tests, miracle cures, and mail order clinics, etc. are other ways schemed to defraud you. Legitimate doctors and hospitals do not advertise through the mail.

For your protection:

• Do not rush into something involving your money or property 
• Be wary of something-for-nothing or get-rich-quickly schemes 
• Never sign a contract until you and your lawyer, banker, or other expert has thoroughly read it. 
• Never turn over large sums of cash to anyone, especially a stranger, no matter how promising the deal looks. 
• Do not hesitate to check for credentials of a salesman or public official. 
• Report all suspicious offers to the police immediately, before the swindler leaves town in search of other victims 
• Arrange for incoming cheques to be sent directly.

At Home:

• Join Operation Identification. 
• Install good locks and always use them. 
• Don’t leave telltale signs that you are away. 
• Never open your door to a stranger without credentials. Install a wide-angle door viewer that permits you to see callers before you open the door.

• Walk only in well-lit areas. 
• No not burden yourself with packages and a bulky purse. 
• Never display large sums of money in public. 
• Walk near the curb and away from alleys and doorways.

• Always lock your car after entering and whenever leaving it. 
• If you have car trouble, raise the hood, lock yourself in and wait for the police. If a stranger stops to offer help, do not get out of the car. Ask the stranger to call a service truck for you. 
• If you suspect someone is following you, drive to the nearest public place (gas station, all-night restaurant) and blow your horn.