ST. PAUL - According to St. Paul RCMP, there were 89 reports of fraud related occurrences received locally in 2020, up from the 57 reports received in 2019.
"We as a detachment have seen an increase in reports of fraud in the past year," says Cst. Monnika Fehr, with the St. Paul RCMP detachment. "Locally, we are seeing a lot of reports for telephone scams where payment is being requested as well as payment in the form of pre-paid VISA cards."
Fehr says RCMP encourage people to avoid answering any unknown phone numbers, and to ask questions in situations where they are unsure.
"It is okay to get a phone number and call them back if you need," she adds.
March is the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association’s (ACCPA) fraud prevention month. Each year, the ACCPA hosts events so Albertans can learn more about how fraudulent activity impacts their communities. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year's initiatives will take place online.
The ACCPA and supporting organizations, including the RCMP, will be highlighting topics including cyber-crime, identity-theft, phone scams, and more over social media, in hopes of reaching Albertans. The hashtag #FPM2021 will be used in social media posts.
In 2020, Alberta RCMP investigated a total of 10,504 reports of fraud, with 915 cases in March 2020 alone.
"Fraud–prevention education is key to keeping you and your loved one’s finances and personal information safe," according to information from RCMP Alberta.
Frauds often front as banking or credit card services, government agencies, and sometimes customer service representatives. Those committing fraud will pose as "seemingly trustworthy sources," according to RCMP.
Scams trick people into providing personal information - and in most cases financial information. Learning how to spot potential fraud is the best defense against becoming a victim.
Be wary of calls from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers, and emails that appear to be from unknown senders or addresses.
Requests for immediate payment or money transfers, or payment in the form of gift cards, are another red flag to watch out for.
People should also be cautious if personal information is being requested over test message or email.
Pre-recorded phone messages or voicemails are also used in scams.
"Be extra cautious when dealing with cheques from unknown parties," says RCMP, and "If you’re unfamiliar with how crypto currencies work, you should avoid dealing in them."
If you have been the victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report it to local law enforcement and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcenter.ca, or by calling: 1-888-495-8501. Contact your bank and credit card company if you believe your personal or financial information has been compromised.
Lastly, "Your local RCMP is also here to answer any questions if you think you may be a victim of fraud," says Fehr.
