March comes in like a lion for Fraud Prevention Month with the Investor Education Fund's (IEF) "National Scam Exam Challenge"

Top Three Highest-Scoring Players of Financial Literacy Game's Fraud Episode in March Win Premium Prizes

TORONTO, March 5, 2012 /CNW/ - How much do Canadians really know about avoiding investment fraud? Investor Education Fund's (IEF) www.GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca aims to find out with the recently launched Cranial Cash Clash financial literacy game.

In support of Canada's Fraud Prevention Month in March, IEF introduces the National Scam Exam Challenge, offering up prizes to the three highest-scoring players (gold, silver and bronze) of the fraud "episode." Players can log in to Facebook and play the "Scam Exam" episode multiple times to improve their scores and go head to head against other players from coast to coast.

"Victims of investment fraud lose more than just their savings - they also lose their trust in others and, in many cases, suffer emotional and physical health effects," says Perry Quinton, IEF vice-president of marketing. "The National Scam Exam Challenge helps Canadians learn to recognize a scam and take steps to protect themselves."

"Scam Exam" is one of eight financial episodes on The Cranial Cash Clash, which is available on www.GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca. The extensive online and mobile game (available on Apple iOS and Google Android) helps Canadians assess how much they really need to learn about money.

The National Scam Exam Challenge and The Cranial Cash Clash provide direct interaction with Canadians about their knowledge of financial concepts, including fraud-prevention awareness. "We recognize the need to engage Canadians through interesting, interactive and appealing tools," says Quinton. "That is what this challenge and game do."

Fraud Prevention Month, chaired by Canada's Competition Bureau, is supported by a group of private sector firms, consumer and volunteer groups, government agencies and law enforcement organizations committed to fighting fraud. IEF supports Fraud Prevention Month as part of its ongoing effort to help Canadians get smarter about money with online tools and education, school curriculum content and other financial literacy initiatives. Along with the "Scam Exam" episode of The Cranial Cash Clash, visitors to www.GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca can find information about current scams to help them learn to recognize and prevent investment fraud.

About IEF:
IEF offers unbiased financial information to the general public via www.GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca, and to students through its Taking Stock in Your Future, the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star and Funny Money for High Schools Assembly Program. The not-for-profit organization was established by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and is funded through OSC enforcement settlements. IEF was awarded gold for leadership and innovation in the 2010 Public Sector Leadership Awards. IEF played a prominent role in Ontario's initiative to bring financial education to the province's junior and senior high schools. It also consistently takes the pulse of Canadians to determine habits and needs related to personal finance, money management and investing.

Margo Rapport
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