Becoming a victim of fraud can be devastating in many ways.

People who fall into the trap of being taken by a scam can lose their life savings, have ruined relationships, and can be affected in countless other ways. March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada and the RCMP in Alberta are hoping to raise awareness about various scams and fraud to prevent you from falling victim.

Cst. Meagan Filion of the RCMP's Federal Serious and Organized Crime division in Alberta says fraud is something many Canadians have been affected by.

"Just over a quarter of Canadians believe they have been approached with a possible fraudulent investment." The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)  says the most common scams in Canada affected 11,490 victims last year. They include romance scams where the fraudsters steal photos and use dating sites and social media to lure victims into sending money for various reasons; and investment scams, which include any solicitation for investments into false, deceptive or misleading investment opportunities. The CAFC lists eight other common scams.  

Even though seniors are sometimes thought of as the most likely to become victims of fraud, Filion says anyone may be vulnerable. "There are many sorts of ages and people that fraudsters target. It's not necessarily one age group or another because there are many types of fraud."

The RCMP has some tips to help you protect yourself from fraud. They say don't be fooled by a promise of a valuable prize in return for a low cost purchase: be extra cautious about calls, emails or mailings offering international bonds or lottery tickets, and don't be afraid to hang up the phone or delete the email. You also shouldn't purchase a product or service without carefully checking them out.

On March 18th, the Alberta RCMP and 12 other organizations including the Canada Revenue Agency, the Bank of Canada, and Crime Stoppers, will hold a fraud prevention Information Fair at the Cross Iron Mills Mall from 10 am to 9 pm. The public is invited, according to Cst. Filion.

"They'll be provided with pamphlets, information and people to talk to in relation to fraud."

The RCMP warn that each year, thousands of Albertans fall victim to fraud, and most thought it could never happen to them.  In 2016, from January through October, a total of 8,317 cases of fraud were reported in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions.

 

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