Police and anti-fraud investigators warn shoppers to be vigilant on Black Friday

Police are urging shoppers to be careful this Black Friday, not only online, but while shopping in person.

The warning comes after the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported over 100,000 cases of fraud across the country last year. And some of that crime involved distracted shoppers.

"There might be more crowds than usual in the stores so stay calm, keep an eye on your children and avoid pushing through tight crowds always," said Sarah Kaelas of the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

"Be patient and report any suspicious activity if you see anything unusual don't hesitate to report it to the store security or to the police. And overall just stay vigilant and work together to keep everyone safe this Black Friday."

Police are reminding people to stay aware of their surroundings while in stores today.

That includes protecting belongings, debit card pin numbers and purchases when bringing them back to your vehicle. 

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in North Bay is sharing a similar message. 

It's launching the Get Cyber Safe campaign with the RCMP and the federal government to spread the word about threats during the holiday season.

"That's where a lot of victims are putting themselves at risk because they're trying to rush so they don't miss that sale to save a bit of money. But that being said, people should always take the time to look into whether it might be a new merchant that you've never dealt with before. Just take the time to look into their contact information," said Jeff Horncastle, with the Anti-Fraud Centre.