Rhonda Williams - RCMP

Rhonda joined the RCMP in October 2009 working uniform policing in northern BC. In September of 2013, she was transferred to Stony Plain, Alberta, where she worked on the watch and on the Crime Reduction Unit which looked into prolific offenders conducting criminal activities in the Parkland County area. In February 2021, Rhonda moved to the Federal Serious Organized Crime which investigated inter-border drug and firearms trafficking. In July 2023, she made the move over to the Provincial Financial Crime Team where she has remained to this date.

Under the theme "20 years of fighting fraud: From then to now," this year's campaign will shed light on how fraudsters' old tricks have now been refined with the use of technology. The campaign aims to help Canadians recognize warning signs, reject suspicious claims and report fraud to the authorities.

Recent numbers from the CAFC are concerning: in 2023 alone, Canadians lost a staggering $567 million – an increase of $37 million from 2022 and $187 million since 2021. Despite this rise in financial losses, the rate of frauds being reported remains low, with only 5% to 10% reported.

As law enforcement agencies and over 60 organizations across the country work together to raise awareness about fraud, Canadian consumers and businesses also play a key role in preventing it. Education remains the strongest line of defence against frauds.

In 2023, the top three most reported types of fraud were identity fraud, service fraud, and phishing –all designed to get you to pay or give away sensitive information like your social insurance number, passwords or banking details. The top three frauds reported that had the highest level of financial impact were investment scams, spear phishing, and romance scams.

In 2023, the CAFC received 116,403 reports which included at least 41,873 victims of fraud. The CAFC is jointly managed by the RCMP, the Competition Bureau and the Ontario Provincial Police.