I Keep It to Myself campaign: three Quebec financial institutions join forces once again to fight fraud

For the second year in a row, National Bank, Desjardins Group and Laurentian Bank are joining forces during Cyber Security Awareness Month to sponsor the I Keep It to Myself campaign. This year's campaign, which will run throughout October, is geared toward raising awareness among the general public and businesses.

According to cybersecurity experts McAfee, 97% of people are unable to correctly identify phishing emails. The three financial institutions want to reduce that number, which is why the component targeting consumers focuses mainly on phishing.

Also, according to a report published by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in April 2017, nearly half of SMEs in Canada have been the victim of a cyberattack. SMEs comprise 98% of the Canadian economy and are particularly vulnerable to these types of attack. Consequently, it's important to raise awareness among entrepreneurs about the main scams and how they can protect themselves.

Throughout the month of October, podcasts, articles, tips and videos will be posted to help the public and entrepreneurs better understand the potential risks and avoid traps.

'Not a week goes by without hearing about someone who has received a fraudulent text message or email, or a company that has been scammed. Fraud has become a major issue and the best way to prevent it is by raising awareness. Talking about it encourages people to be more cautious, and helps them recognize scams and avoid being taken advantage of. It's crucial to keep the dialogue going on this topic,' says Benoît Dupont, Scientific Director of the Smart Cybersecurity Network (SERENE-RISC) and spokesperson for the I Keep It to Myself campaign.

The 2016 joint campaign was a first for the three financial institutions who are concerned by the rise in fraud. Each year, thousands of Canadians fall victim and millions of dollars end up in the hands of fraud artists.