The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Service NL:
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House today to recognize March as Fraud Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This campaign, in its 15th year, is promoted throughout Canada to raise awareness of the dangers of all types of fraud, and to provide information that helps protect against fraudulent activity.
Recognizing the signs, rejecting suspicious claims and reporting them to the authorities will help in fighting fraud. The Consumer Affairs Division of Service NL provides information and resources to help keep Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aware of risks, to protect the interests of consumers, and help them make informed selections in the marketplace.
Mr. Speaker, in November 2018, we launched a new Consumer Advisories and Alerts webpage that provides quick access to information on bad business practices, public advisories, consumer alerts and consumer product recalls. Fraud Prevention Month is an opportunity to make residents aware of this important tool and note that the webpage is reviewed and updated regularly to provide additional information and to ensure consumers have access to the most current notifications.
I encourage anyone who suspects this type of activity, or has experienced fraud, to contact our Consumer Affairs Division at consumeraffairs@gov.nl.ca.
During Fraud Prevention Month, Service NL will be sharing fraud prevention tips on social media. I ask all of my Honourable colleagues to join me in helping raise awareness of this important issue.
Thank you.