BBB releases top 10 scams reported in 2022

The Better Business Bureau released its Scam Tracker Risk Report which outlined the top 10 scams in Canada in 2022. March is also Fraud Prevention Month. Most of the fraud involved improvement scams followed by cryptocurrency scams.

Wes Lafortune, the media and communications specialist with the southern Alberta BBB told us why these two were so high up the list.

“People have just become a lot more aware of cryptocurrency assets generally and cryptocurrency exchanges and a little more, I think, skeptical of investing. At least be more aware that it’s a very high risk investment, cryptocurrency. And the home improvement thing, I think makes sense because in the last couple of years, people, folks at home, we’ve been locked down this pandemic off and on, and people have wanted to do home improvements, putting in some windows and maybe putting a deck on your home or improving your patio or whatever.”

Below is the list of the top 10 most reported scams in Canada to the BBB in 2022:

1. Home improvement
2. Cryptocurrency assets
3. Advance fee loans
4. Investment
5. Employment
6. Online purchases
7. Rental
8. Credit card
9. Travel/vacation/timeshare
10.  Phishing

You can also find more information about the various scams making the rounds on the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker website http://BBB.org/ScamTracker