Learn the ABC's of fraud prevention

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Consultant and Halifax Rotarian Bill Vangorder will be in Wolfville May 5 to lead a unique program called the ABC’s of Fraud.

Sponsored by Wolfville Rotarians, the evening will employ 28 volunteers working in pairs role-playing.

Vangorder says this method gets the message across in an entertaining way.

Most scam artists today pretend to send money to those they dupe and look to refund a portion of it.

“This is the crime of choice among these criminals today,” notes Vangorder. “It’s an invasion, just like break and entry.”

The evening workshop will examine topics such as “Gravestoning, Phishing, identity theft, Dumpster Diving, mail forwarding, bogus charities, and unscrupulous telemarketers. These are the types of tactics that are used to scam and defraud people all across Canada,” he said.

The ABCs of Fraud program was created in 1996 by the Volunteer Bureau of Toronto. The program was developed originally with senior speakers talking to other seniors.

In early 2005, it expanded to include all age groups. “We also are now partnering with the RCMP and Industry Canada to raise public awareness across Canada. Since the program began, volunteer speakers have reached almost 100,000 people across Canada,” Vangorder said.

The presentation is free and is interactive with exercises, quizzes and videos. Vangorder says the program will identify prevention tips and ways to identify potential frauds and scams, along with community resources related to consumer fraud.

The Wolfville session is set for the Al Whittle Theatre.