Avoiding scams DEMAND NEW HOLLAND https://agriculture.newholland.com/nar/en-us EQUIPPED FOR A NEW WORLD™ Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Campbellford • 705-653-3700 Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Lindsay • 705-324-2221 Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Napanee • 613-354-9244 Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Sunderland • 705-357-3121 Delta Power Equipment Mitchell • 519-348-8467 Delta Power Equipment St. Marys • 519-349-2180 Delta Power Equipment Tilbury • 519-682-9090 Delta Power Equipment Waterford • 519-443-8622 Delta Power Equipment Watford • 519-849-2744 Delta Power Equipment Winchester • 613-774-2887 Ebert Welding Ltd. New Liskeard • 705-647-6896 ESM Farm Equipment Ltd. Wallenstein • 519-669-5176 Maxville Farm Machinery Ltd. Maxville • 613-527-2834 McCauley Equipment Sales Orillia • 705-325-4424 Oneida New Holland Caledonia • 905-765-5011 Oneida New Holland St Catharines • 905-688-5160 Regional Tractor Sales Ltd. Freelton • 905-659-1094 Richards Equipment Inc. Barrie • 705-721-5530 Robert’s Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. Chesley • 519-363-3192 Robert’s Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. Mount Forest • 519-323-2755 Robert’s Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. Walton • 519-887-6365 Smiths Farm Equipment (Jasper) Ltd. Jasper • 613-283-1758 Stewart’s Equipment Erin • 519-833-9616 Horncastle agrees. “You can look up the URL or domain that fraudsters are using for links or emails. There are also ways to verify when a website was created. “If you’re getting emails asking you to download attachments or click on links, take time to look at where it’s coming from.” Bouvier asks, “if an email appears to be coming from a known person, does it follow typical interactions with that company? Independently verify with that person if they are asking you to phone somewhere or send money. Don’t just trust it.” Training is another important aspect of keeping farms safe from fraud. There are a few tips for avoiding scammers and increasing the security of farm businesses. “The first step is just training themselves and their employees to be able to recognize the warning signs of phishing,” says Bouvier. “Never give out personal info, and if it’s a known person contacting you, make sure you verify.” Keeping technology protected and clean will also reduce the risk of being a scam victim. “Password hygiene on your accounts is important. Use complex passwords and multifactor authentication in case someone has your password,” says Bouvier. “Don’t reuse passwords on your accounts. Anti-virus and anti-malware software can also help protect your devices, and if it finds something malicious, it can actually help block them.” Bouvier recommends keeping devices updated, noting that out-ofdate software can be exploited by scammers. There are also a few programs that are designed to reduce the risk of fraud. Get Cyber Safe is a national program which increases awareness of cyber safety. It features information about securing accounts, devices, and connections. The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is also a nationally administered program offering grants for improving technology. Businesses can apply for the Boost Your Business Technology grant for up to $15,000 in funding. One eligible application for this funding is boosting business cyber security. What if you’ve been scammed? You don’t need to be the victim of a scam to report something suspicious. “If something is suspicious, it’s important to report it,” says Horncastle. “You don’t have to be a victim to report it. Flag it to the platform it’s on and report it to the Canadian AntiFraud Centre with the contact info and payment info they are requesting. Never send money or personal info if you believe something is suspicious.” If you do find yourself the victim of a scam, don’t be embarrassed.
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