Scams are not new, but they keep changing and evolving, and scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. 

Andy Alguire Vice President of Information Technology at SCU.

Andy Alguire, Vice President of Information Technology at the Steinbach Credit Union, says there are many scams going around but there are a few things we can do to protect ourselves. He says most scammers don't like to be asked questions, and they also don't want other people to get involved.

"As time passes, the scammer becomes increasingly sophisticated, whether it's online or in person. From a personal perspective, they like to befriend someone and gain their trust by being friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, some will engage with elders or older people."

Sadly, Alguire says you need to be suspicious, especially if people are trying to gain your trust. Ask pointed questions and include someone you trust about what is being pitched to you before making a decision.

Online, Alguire says to shop on reputable sites, and never store your credit card information on the site. "Online banking is secure, but people need to practice safe computing. Do your shopping from a trusted internet connection. Don't do any shopping on a wireless or wi-fi connection you don't know such as a hotspot or in a shopping mall, because those can be quite easily hacked and your credentials can be stolen."

He says to also make sure the online address starts with https, which means the connection is encrypted, so the information flowing from your computer to the online shopping site is scrambled and undecipherable so it can't be hacked.

If you are a member at the SCU, Alguire says another thing you could do is enable Direct Alert so you get a message with every transaction you make with online banking. So you will instantly be aware of any transaction you didn't make.

"We have been hearing a lot about bad viruses such as Ransomware so ensure your computer is getting updated to make sure the operating system is being patched for vulnerabilities, and limit your browsing if possible."

If you have important documents and pictures on your computer, it's a good idea to back them up on another device, like a USB key in case your computer is compromised or hacked.

Alguire also adds, to be sure to use an antivirus program and malware protection on your PC, and that it's getting updates regularly. He notes, being aware of what's happening in the world is also important.