A new scam is targeting people forced to evacuate due to wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, prompting a warning from the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan.
The scam claims to be from the Canadian Red Cross and asks for personal and banking information to process payments.
The Red Cross has issued a fraud alert for both provinces, saying eligible recipients of financial assistance will not be asked to provide details such as social insurance numbers, bank account information or credit card numbers.
Authorities are urging residents to verify details if contacted by someone claiming to represent a charitable organization and requesting sensitive information.
Red flags include mismatched email domains, messages from unknown numbers, spelling and grammar errors, pressure to act quickly, and requests for personal or financial information. People are also advised to be cautious of suspicious links and attachments, or if they are unable to verify the organization's registration.
The FCAA provides a list of licensed for-profit charitable fundraising businesses in Saskatchewan. Charities operating independently, such as the Canadian Red Cross, are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and can be found here.
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