The RCMP wants to make sure your holiday season isn't ruined by someone looking to take advantage of your busy Christmas schedule. (file photo)

By Jordan Davidson

holiday grinches

Keeping yourself and your presents safe this holiday season

Nov 29, 2023 | 4:32 PM

NANAIMO — As the holiday season approaches, local police want to make sure your Christmas season isn’t ruined by criminals.

The RCMP released a detailed list of how to keep yourself safe this year, including tips on how to protect your purchases from online scammers, home invaders, and porch pirates.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said criminals take advantage of the busy time of year to try and catch you off-guard, potentially stealing your presents, your money, or your identity.

“It’s a great time of the year, it creates a lot of wonderful, lasting, lifetime memories, but there are criminals who want to ruin those. So these tips are just a reminder for people to be safe when they’re shopping and when they’re walking to their cars, and in their houses as well.”

Be aware of fake websites
Make sure the website you’re buying from is from a legitimate company with a secure website.

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A lock icon located at the bottom of your screen or making sure ‘https’ is located in the URL address are two ways to confirm the website isn’t a knock-off.

Travelling while your home is empty
If you plan on vacating your home for a long period of time this Christmas, O’Brien said you should tell a trusted person when you are leaving to keep an eye on your place.

“We really advocate you involve your block captain if you have one or a trusted neighbour. Also if your house has an audible alarm, let the trusted neighbour, friend or family know what the code is so they can go in and deactivate it if necessary.”

He said having household lights on a timer is a great way to make your home appear occupied.

“Timers are significant. It puts the random issue into play so the criminals don’t know if there is somebody home.”

You can also cancel your mail to avoid a buildup indicating no one is home.

Porch pirates
This ever-increasing issue is when opportunistic thieves steal packages off your doorstep after they’ve been delivered.

“People should know now that criminals are following the courier vans to houses and they’re going to wait that two minutes to see if a parcel is picked up, and if not they are going to scoop it,” said O’Brien. “Make arrangements to have it delivered to a trusted friend or neighbour, or leave it at the warehouse and arrange to pick it up later.”

Planning ahead is key; make sure someone is home at the time of delivery, direct the items to a trusted friend’s home or your workplace, or leave them at the delivery warehouse for pick-up.

Keep receipts
Make sure you keep your receipts, as criminals will dumpster-dive in search of discarded receipts.

It’s also good to hold on to your receipts until well after the holiday season to ensure there are no discrepancies with your bank statements.

Pickpockets
Keep your wallet, cash, and cards in a front pocket or somewhere zipped up so no sticky fingers can get access to them.

Parcels in vehicles
Don’t leave anything in plain view in your vehicle. If possible, take your purchases inside or secure them in a locked trunk.

Beware of fake charities
Do your homework before donating your hard-earned money. A simple Google or social media search can ensure you’re donating to a legitimate cause.

Checking your bank statements
Make sure there are no fraudulent or unrecognized purchases on your account. If there are, reach out to your bank or credit card company immediately.

If you become victimized by these or any other type of scam, O’Brien said to contact your local police department for assistance.

“If you receive a phone call where you felt you were being scammed but you were wise enough to prevent any loss, you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and report that. That’s very valuable information because it assists us in how we respond to scams that are kind of popping up all across the country.”

You can call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or click here to access their fraud reporting system.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow