PHISHING:

As the term implies, PHISHING is a tactic where a generic message is sent out to many people in an attempt to troll for personal, financial and/or credit information.

Telephone cold calls and Internet spam are frequently used by criminals to solicit sensitive personal information from members of the public. The message or story is the bait and senders of these messages mask the true nature of the call or email, often by portraying themselves as representatives of legitimate companies.

For example, “My name is XXXX and I am calling on behalf of XXXX Credit Services. We have suffered a computer problem and urgently require our customers to confirm some information so that we can retrieve your account information on our servers…”.

Would a legitimate financial institution operate this way? As with anything, the quality of the bait can reflect a higher success rate for the person sending the message. For this reason, callers and email may appear extremely convincing.

SPOOFING:

PHISHING sometimes employs the use of a counterfeited or SPOOFED website. These fake websites are specifically designed to mimic those of a legitimate fi-nancial institution or credit company.

Images, logos and trademarks are digitally copied into the fake website in order to add an appearance of legitimacy to these sites. Links to SPOOFED websites are often contained within PHISHING email. These emails request that you click into the links and provide your sensitive information. In some cases, a telephone caller may request that you log into a mentioned site in order to “confirm” your sensitive information.

Sensitive data gathered through the use of these tactics is regularly used in crimes ranging from basic fraud to complete identity theft. Recovering from these types of crimes is difficult and can take many years.

How can I protect myself?

In all circumstances, remember the anonymous element to any telephone or Internet communication. Do I really know who I am communicating with? Do I really know where this information is going? Is it normal for a business or government agency to request personal information in this way?

Be critical of unsolicited calls or emails that request your personal information.

Install up-to-date anti-spam software on your computer.

Resist the urgent-sounding appeal to respond to the caller’s request for information. Take time to consider the importance of the information that you are being asked to provide and the circumstances in which it is being requested. Remember, it is extremely rare for a financial institution to “lose” your financial information. As well, any rushed or urgent response on your part is not likely to remedy this loss should it have really happened. When in doubt, contact the financial institution or government agency directly using the contact information obtained from legitimate and established sources.

Additional information on these tactics and others can be found on the following websites:

www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudeswww.phonebusters.comwww.recol.ca.

“Identity theft is rarely the result of information that has actually been stolen. Usually the information has simply been provided,” said Corporal Chris Lambert of the RCMP Commercial Crime Section.

For more information please contact: Cpl. C. R. (Chris) Lambert RCMP “D” Division Commercial Crime Section Tel.: (204) 984-1168 Cell.: (204) 470-5641 or Cpl. Chad Fournier RCMP “D” Division Commercial Crime Section Tel.: (204) 984-1942.

The post Fraud Awareness Month appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Potatoes are rated throughout the year on a variety of factors including size, gravity, defect level and colour and awarded points accordingly. At the end of each crop year, the top 10 growers are determined based on their overall scores.

Fred Schaeffer, president and CEO of McCain Foods (Canada) was on hand to extend personal congratulations to Fiskel Farms and all of the Mc-Cain growers.

In his address to the group, Schaeffer noted the importance of their achievements and his optimism for the coming year.

“All of you play a critical role in our business and tonight’s primary purpose is to recognize and thank you for all of your efforts over the past year. It is our great people, great products and great growers like you gathered here tonight that underpin my optimism.”

Fiskel Farms of Brookdale are one of the original growers with McCain and have been in the Top 10 category three times. In addition to being awarded a trophy and a cheque for $1,000, Fiskel Farms will also receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to the Bahamas for their achievement.

The other growers who qualified for the top 10 roster, in order of final standing, were: Wilbro Farms Ltd. (Don and Barb Williams, Lauder), R. E. D. Baron Farms (Earl and Faye Baron, Dave and Mary Baron, Randy and Kim Baron of Carberry, Harte and Gregg), T and M Olmstead Farms (Trent and Candis Olmstead, Myles and Karen Olmstead, Gregg), Acadia Colony Farms Ltd. (represented by John Hofer Sr., John Hofer Jr., Arnold Hofer, Ike Hofer, Leonard Hofer, Carberry), Mid-Man Farms Ltd. (Don and Muriel McIntosh, Brock and Donna McIntosh, Harte), Sprucewoods Colony Ltd. (represented by Clarence Waldner, Joey Waldner, Elie Waldner, Brookdale), C and T Reynolds Farms (Conway and Betty Reynolds, Troy and Angie Reynolds, Carberry), Wright Spud Farms Inc. (Glenn and Alice Wright, Steven Wright and Jerilyn Popien, Wellwood) and Cypress River Potato Growers (Don and Audrey Daymond, Trevor and Wendy Daymond, Don Richmond, Cypress River).

Each received a plaque and a $1,000 cheque for their accomplishment.

The post Top Potato Growers Named appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.