March 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, a month-long crime prevention initiative aimed at educating and informing consumers and the community on how to recognize, report, and stop fraud.

Frauds continue to victimize thousands of Canadians annually resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars being stolen from them. Medicine Hatters are not immune to these scams.

There are a wide range of scams currently being used by fraudsters. The best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud is to educate yourself on current trends and remain skeptical of any situation that appears too good to be true. Criminals are constantly changing their tactics, and they are becoming more complex in their delivery of the scams.

Throughout the month, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) Community Support Unit will be sharing information on how to recognize and stop from becoming victims of common frauds and scams.

This week the focus is on online frauds which are very prevalent as we continue to expand the ways we communicate on the internet. The reduced face-to-face communication can make is challenging to determine if we are being targeted by a scam. Common online frauds include:

• Romance scams that prey on people longing for friendship and relationships. Communication often begins through a friend request or a “like” on a publicly shared photo. These scams may continue for months or years with the victim truly believing that the suspect loves them and has their best interests at stake. They will often convince the victim to send money to help them pay bills, or to pay for flights so that the suspect can visit the victim. The suspect often has excuses for not using the money as intended and will request more money. They may even video-call the victim to make the fraud seem more legit. In some cases, the victim’s friends or relatives realize the relationship is a fraud and must convince the victim who is deeply invested in the relationship.
• Online marketplace scams take advantage of unknowing internet shoppers. Scammers will post a photo of an item (that may or may not exist) for sale. They will request partial or full payment for the item prior to arranging a meeting with the buyer. They buyer will show up at the meeting place and the suspects are nowhere to be seen, and the advertisements are quickly removed.
• Lottery/Prize scams are another type of fraud often found online. Scammers will send mass emails advising the recipient that they have won a cash prize or an item of significant value. They will request credit card or banking information to deposit the funds, or they may request a cash deposit, wire transfer, or e-transfer to hold the prize for the victim. Once they receive banking or credit card information, they will attempt to withdraw funds from the accounts. The prize is never sent to the victim, and the money sent to the suspects is frequently not traceable.
• Computer support or technology repair company scammers will contact victims claiming that there is an issue with the victim’s computer files or computer accounts. They may convince the victim to allow them to remotely access their computer or device. Once they gain access the suspects will attempt to retrieve banking information and passwords which are then used to withdraw money from the victim’s accounts.
• Employment or investment opportunities scams often sound very appealing but will require they victim pay a fee first before reaping the rewards. This fee may be requested as an e-transfer or very typically a code from a gift card or similar online currency.

In general, no legitimate company will request someone to send money, gift card codes, or deposit into crypto currencies.

The sad truth is that many of the scammers are across borders and once the money is e-transferred, money ordered, provided through gift card codes, or deposited into a crypto currency account, it is often gone for good and extremely difficult to investigate and hold anyone accountable. Beware of communication from any company that you have not previously been a customer, especially if it is not a local business that you are familiar with. It is recommended that you conduct research on a company prior to hiring them. The Better Business Bureau is a great resource, as well as word-of-mouth recommendations from trusted friends or family.

Media Contact:

A/Sgt. Brent Bohrn
Medicine Hat Police Service
Community Support Unit
Ph: 403-458-0209