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St. Albert resident scammed out of $49,800

The St. Albert RCMP said fraudsters posing as Microsoft employees and bank representatives told the resident their banking information had been compromised.
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St. Albert RCMP cruisers at headquarters station. FILE PHOTO/St. Albert Gazette

St. Albert RCMP are alerting the public to a banking scam that saw a local citizen lose more than $49,000. 

A St. Albert resident received a phone call from an individual stating they were from Microsoft. The caller explained the resident’s computer was hacked and all their banking information was compromised. 

The fraudster than transferred the resident to a phony “Fraud Department.” The fraudulent bank agent convinced the local resident to set up a new “dummy” account to protect their money. 

The fraudulent banker helped create the new bank account at an overseas banking company, and the St. Albert resident sent $49,800 believing it would protect their money from theft. 

The resident realized something was not right and went to their bank branch. While speaking to an official bank employee, the resident discovered they had been scammed. 

St. Albert RCMP would like to remind the public fraud can happen to anyone. Professional criminals use elaborate scams and are very convincing on the phone. If anyone believes their banking information is compromised, the best practice is to visit their financial institution in person and discuss the matter with an employee. 

In 2018, the Alberta RCMP received 11,000 reports of fraud. Impersonations and identity theft related incidents accounted for 14 per cent of all reported fraud. If you believe you are a victim of a fraud or scam, report the information to a local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll-free at 1-888-495-8501. 

Anyone with information on a crime is asked to call St. Albert RCMP Detachment at 780-458-7700. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.P3Tips.com. 

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