Protect yourself

The first step is to learn how organized crime operates. If you haven’t already done so, read the section called Get the facts. Additionally, a comprehensive source of information on organized crime in Canada is the annual report produced by the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada.

Once you have a good understanding of the issues, follow these tips on how to protect yourself against specific kinds of crime:

• Contraband
• Counterfeit
• Drugs
• Fraud
• Identity theft
• Internet safety
• Vehicle theft

Contraband

Firearms

• If you suspect someone of possessing an illegal firearm, do not confront the person. Report the person and the circumstances to your local police.
• If you are a hunter or practice sport shooting, only purchase firearms through legitimate channels. Do not be tempted by a good deal. You will only be courting danger and continue supporting organized crime.

Cigarettes

• If you suspect someone of selling contraband cigarettes, do not confront the person. Report the person and the circumstances to your local police.
• If you are a smoker, only purchase cigarettes through licensed retailers. Every time you purchase contraband cigarettes you are supporting organized crime.

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Counterfeit

Clothing and accessories

• If you’re buying brand-name articles, purchase them through legitimate or licensed retailers. If the price seems too good to be true, the item is likely a counterfeit.
• Do not purchase brand-named clothing from street vendors.

Industrial products

• Look for spelling errors in the packaging or instructions. • Look for substandard quality.
• Ask for owner’s manuals and manufacturer’s warranties. If these do not exist or do not look official, it is a good chance that the product is counterfeit.

Pharmaceuticals

• Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are medicines, both brand name and generic, which are deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source.
• Avoid purchasing pharmaceuticals from anyone but your local or licensed pharmacist.
• Look for spelling errors in the packaging or instructions.
• Due to the high regulation of pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, it is rare to find counterfeit pharmaceuticals in licensed pharmacies. However, it has happened. If the pharmaceuticals you have purchased through a pharmacy do not provide the described results, report it immediately to your doctor.
• Medication trafficked by criminal groups or sold by illegal Internet pharmacies is clearly more likely to be counterfeit than medication received from licensed sources. Given the multitude of websites selling pharmaceuticals of questionable provenance and authenticity, illegal Internet pharmacies provide the most likely vehicle for counterfeit drugs.
• Individuals most at risk of encountering counterfeit pharmaceuticals will be those who seek psychotropic or lifestyle drugs (for which they do not have a prescription) from less than reputable sources. Other individuals at risk will be those who mix licit and illicit drugs or take multiple prescription drugs for non-medicinal uses.

Software

• Purchase legitimate software from trusted sources.
• Be suspicious of spelling mistakes, awkward English, and crude packaging. Legitimate software manufacturers normally put a lot of time, effort and money into marketing and packaging their products.
• If the deal is too good to be true, it’s probably counterfeit. Software that normally costs $500 but is offered for $100 is likely counterfeit.
• Don’t purchase multiple software packages on one CD.
• Research the company selling the software. Do they have a record with the Better Business Bureau? If yes, stay away. Do they have legitimate addresses and phone numbers? If no, stay away.

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Drugs

Beyond the common sense of avoiding illicit drugs, we must all learn to protect our neighbourhoods against illicit drug operations. They are often set up in homes and are disguised to fit into the even the most affluent of neighbourhoods.

Marijuana grow-ops

Marihuana grow operations – “grow ops” – often involve organized crime, raising the threat of violence in your community along with health hazards and higher hydro and home insurance rates. Often, criminals install hundreds of plants in homes in quiet neighbourhoods. To protect yourself and your neighbours, you should report any home or building where you see the signs of a grow-op. Do not investigate the premises yourself as they may be heavily protected. Here’s how you can spot grow ops:

• Windows are covered so that people can’t see in.
• There is little human activity.
• You constantly hear the sound of electrical generators and fans.
• There is a skunky smell around the house.
• There is heavy traffic at odd times of the day and night.
• There is unusual garbage such as fertilizer containers.
• There seems to be excessive security around the house.

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Fraud

There are many types of fraud. They all have common signs. To protect ourselves we must all learn how to recognize those signs. Additionally, criminals look for weaknesses in their victims and count on the human virtues of trust and sympathy. We must also be alert and wary of any sales pitch or scheme that seems too good to be true. As the fraud artists always evolve their pitches and schemes, it is best to review the most current information on scams. See the RCMP’s page on scams.

If you suspect that a friend or family member is a victim, do not criticize them. They may try to hide or deny it. Help them to recognize the signs of fraud. Help them to investigate and report it.

• Be suspicious when someone asks for more personal financial information than he or she really needs. Ask why this is needed.
• Don’t allow yourself to be rushed into making a decision.
• Question why the offer is too good to be true.
• Question why a stranger on the phone is suddenly so friendly.
• Ask how the organization calling you got your contact information.
• Beware when someone purporting to be your bank asks you urgently to log onto their website to upgrade your security. It could be a “cloned” site operated by organized crime.
• Keep an eye on your credit or debit card when paying at the counter. Make sure it doesn’t disappear where it could be “skimmed” or photographed. Skimming involves passing your card through a small card reader which stores information.

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Identity theft

• Memorize your social insurance number – don’t carry it with you.
• Sign all your new credit cards immediately.
• While using an automated teller machine (ATM) or your debit card, make sure no one is looking over your shoulder or has access to your PIN number.
• Install a firewall on your computer to protect your personal information from Internet criminals.
• Never disclose your credit card number or personal financial information on-line without confirming that it is a secure site.
• Keep a separate record of your credit card numbers in case your cards are stolen. Report the theft immediately.
• Treat telemarketers with caution. You have the right to check whether they are legitimate by asking for call back numbers, references and time to think about their offers.

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Internet safety

• Parents, learn what your children are doing on the Internet – what web sites and chat rooms they are visiting.
• Install filtering software to block objectionable material.
• Place computers in a family room rather than in a child’s bedroom.
• Make sure your child does not give out personal information.
• Monitor your credit card bills.
• Inform Cybertip.ca, an on-line tip centre for reporting the sexual exploitation of children, of any objectionable material for children on the Internet.

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Vehicle theft

Reduce the risk of vehicle theft by following these steps and precautions:

• Park your vehicle properly and safely o Park in a well-lit area o Turn wheels to the side to make it hard to tow
  • Close windows completely
  • Turn ignition off
  • Take keys with you
  • Lock valuables in trunk
  • Lock doors
• Park safely at home
  • If you have a garage, use it and lock it
  • If you have a rear-wheel drive car, back into driveway
  • If you have a front-wheel drive car, park front end first
  • Always set the emergency brake
  • Don't leave ownership or insurance cards in the vehicle
  • Drop a business card or address labels inside doors to assist with vehicle identification.

General tips

• Don’t hide a spare key in the vehicle, thieves know where to find it
• Be aware of your surroundings while driving
• Drive with doors locked
• Be aware when purchasing a vehicle. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If your vehicle is stolen...

Report it to police immediately, providing the following information:

• Year, make, model, colour
• Licence
• Vehicle identification number
• Serial numbers of all special equipment
• Special markings - dents, scratches, other damage etc.

Invest in vehicle protection whenever possible

There are three types of protective devices and systems. For the mechanical devices, installation may be quite simple and in many cases the products are designed so that you can do it yourself. For alarms and electronic immobilizers, professional installation is absolutely essential. Ask for the installer’s credentials and the company’s guarantee on workmanship.

The following are the types of vehicle protection devices:

• Mechanical (steering wheel lock bars, shifter locks, brake pedal locks )
• Vehicle alarms (with a kill switch are most effective)
• Electronic immobilizers (very effective)