Spotting Misinformation, Frauds and Scams
The endless content from news and social media can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to tell what is accurate. The spread of misinformation and the increase in fraud, identity crimes and cybercrime are rapidly impacting an increasing proportion of Canadians.
Disinformation is fake or misleading stories that are created and shared on purpose. It often comes with a personal, financial or political benefit.
Misinformation is fake or misleading information that was not created or shared with the intent to mislead someone.
Some tips to help you spot misinformation and disinformation include:
- Identifying the source and who is sharing the content
- What type of content is it? Is it actual news or an ad?
- See who else is reporting the story or content
- Why is the content being shared
- Trusting your gut. If what you are reading or seeing affects your emotions, it could be a sign that something is not right.
These resources can be used to develop your own strategies in spotting misinformation and disinformation, recognizing false content online and decoding media messages.
Learn how to protect yourself and how to report Online Fraud and Scam prevention
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