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Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them
Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them
Updated this week

At KOHO, keeping your finances secure is our top priority. We understand that navigating the financial world can sometimes feel hard especially when it comes to avoiding scams. That’s why we're here to help you steer clear of trouble.

Let’s dive into some common scams to keep an eye out for:

Phishing Scams: Have you ever received an email or a text message claiming to be from a bank or a company you trust, asking for personal information like your password or social insurance number? That’s phishing! Scammers try to trick you into giving away sensitive info by impersonating trusted sources. Remember, we’ll never ask for your password or personal details via email or text.

Investment Scams: Who doesn’t want to make some extra cash? But be cautious of investment opportunities that promise high returns with little to no risk. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Investment scams frequently appear on social media platforms like Facebook and often use deepfake videos of celebrities. Even if their company looks and sounds legitimate, be careful. Always do your research and consult with a trusted financial advisor before investing your hard-earned money.

Romance Scams: Love is in the air, but so are romance scammers. They create fake online profiles to lure you into a relationship, only to ask for money or personal information later on. Sometimes they even share how they've made good money investing in certain things such as Cryptocurrency. Be cautious of online relationships where someone seems too perfect, moves too fast, or makes unrealistic promises.

Work-From-Home Job Scams: Dreaming of making quick cash from the comfort of your own home? Be cautious of job offers that promise easy money for minimal effort. Scammers may ask for personal information or upfront fees, only to disappear once they’ve got what they want. If your new job requires you to open an account with us, or move money around, be very cautious.

Recovery Scams: So, you’ve fallen victim to a scam and lost some money. It happens to the best of us. But beware of scammers who swoop in like heroes, promising to help you recover your lost funds—for a fee, of course. They’ll claim to have special connections or expertise, but in reality, they’re just looking to make a quick buck off your misfortune. Don’t fall for it! Scammers prey on vulnerability. If you’ve already been a victim of a scam, be extra cautious of anyone offering to help you recover your money. Before handing over any more cash, do your research, and consult with trusted professionals or authorities.

Remember, be extra suspicious if you’ve shared access to your computer, shared passcodes or one-time passcodes, or if someone helped you get signed up for KOHO. If anything feels off, trust your gut and reach out to us immediately.

KOHO does not run campaigns via Facebook or SMS offering money to people to open accounts with us. If you receive such messages, report it to KOHO immediately via email at [email protected].

For more tips and resources on staying safe from fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. It’s a trusted source for information on fraud prevention and reporting.

If you believe you are a victim of a scam, here are some steps you can take:

  • Notify KOHO by emailing [email protected] so we can take appropriate action.

  • Report the incident to any other banks or financial institutions you deal with.

  • Consider making a police report to help prevent others from becoming victims too.

  • Report investment-related scams to your Provincial Securities Commission for further investigation.

  • Clean your computer for malware to prevent further damage.

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