March is Fraud Prevention Month in Alberta, and we are pleased to partner with organizations across the province to help raise awareness and educate people about how to recognize, report and protect themselves against fraud.
In 2023, the Calgary Police Service received 9,400 fraud-related calls for service. Of these, there were 5,301 incidents where fraud was the most serious crime that occurred. Fraud is frequently associated with other crimes, such as theft, theft of vehicle and break and enter.
“We encourage anyone who has been a victim of fraud to report it to police,” says Sgt. Nick Wilsher of the Calgary Police Service Crime Prevention Team. “We often hear that people are taking on these losses and not reporting them, either due to embarrassment for being caught up in a scam, or because they don’t believe anything can be done. The more reports we have, the more we can educate the public about new scams and how they can help protect themselves.”
Fraud Prevention Month 2024 will highlight the following topics:
- Week One: online scams and fraud
- Week Two: business fraud and scams
- Week Three: investment scams
- Week Four: mass marketing and phone scams
Throughout March, organizations across Alberta will share fraud prevention information online through social media and at public events. We encourage Calgarians to attend to learn about how to identify, prevent and report fraud.
Comments from our partners
“Fraud is becoming a bigger issue across Canada, and benefits fraud is no exception,” says Brian Geislinger, senior vice-president of corporate relations and community engagement with Alberta Blue Cross. “As Alberta’s largest benefit provider, Alberta Blue Cross has a responsibility to protect the viability of the plans we provide to our customers, which is why we take an integrated and proactive approach to prevent fraud, and why we are such a strong supporter of Fraud Prevention Month. When fraud occurs, we all ultimately pay the price, which is why it’s critical that we all take a shared role in fraud prevention.”
“Over the years, our Fraud Prevention Committee continues to grow, consisting of agencies, consumer groups, government departments, institutions and law enforcement agencies throughout this province and country,” says Jean Bota, president of the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association. “Although March is the official Fraud Prevention Month campaign across Canada, we must always be aware that fraud and victimization occur daily across all demographics. As communities and residents, we must continue to remain vigilant and look out for each other, reporting anything that appears suspicious and unusual.”
“Investment fraud continues to impact Albertans of all ages,” says Hilary McMeekin, director of communications & investor education with the Alberta Securities Commission. “The Alberta Securities Commission works collaboratively with our partners at the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association during Fraud Prevention Month to educate and empower investors to recognize, avoid and report investment fraud. Albertans can continue to build their investment knowledge and learn more about investment scams year-round through a variety of easy-to-access resources and live programming available on CheckFirst.ca.”
“March is Fraud Prevention Month – an important initiative highlighting the significance of proactive measures against financial scams,” states Vivianna Botticelli, chapter president of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. “I encourage all organizations to leverage their platforms to share knowledge on fraud prevention. Through heightened awareness and knowledge sharing, we can assist individuals and organizations to protect themselves from financial scams.”
“As we observe Fraud Prevention Month, we join hands with the Calgary Police Service (CPS) to demonstrate our commitment to educating our community about fraud and how to avoid becoming a victim,” says Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, president & CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay. “Our partnership with the CPS and our other partners is helping create a safer marketplace for consumers and businesses in Alberta. We remain committed to working proactively with the CPS and our other partners as we continue to advance marketplace trust.”
“With scams constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated, it can be tough to stay on top of them all,” says TJ Madigan, spokesperson for the Canada Revenue Agency. “Ultimately, the best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud is to be aware, be educated and be smarter than the scammers.”
“Fraud Prevention Month serves as a vital reminder of the critical role data security plays in safeguarding our electronic devices,” says Bojan Paduh, president and founder of the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA). “As we navigate an increasingly digital landscape, protecting personal and sensitive information is paramount. At the ERA, we recognize that ensuring data security isn’t just a priority, it’s a responsibility. Let’s harness this month as an opportunity to fortify our defences, empowering individuals and businesses alike to mitigate the risks of cyber fraud and preserve the integrity of our digital world.”
“Fraud can be financially and emotionally devastating for victims, no matter the amount lost in a scam,” says Supt. Chan Daktari Dara of the RCMP federal policing program in Alberta. “By working together with our law enforcement and fraud prevention partners, we can educate the public on how they can better protect themselves while also encouraging them to report the fraud to their police of jurisdiction.”
“Fraud doesn’t just harm consumers; it can also damage the reputation of legitimate businesses,” says Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction with the Government of Alberta. “This is why safeguarding consumers from scams and unfair practices, as well as businesses from unjust competition, is crucial. Visit our website, alberta.ca, for a wealth of resources aimed at protecting Albertans and businesses from falling prey to fraudulent activities.”
“The Real Estate Council of Alberta’s (RECA) mandate is to protect Alberta consumers in their real estate transactions,” says Russ Morrow, chief executive officer for RECA. “When consumers work with one of our licensees, the chance of fraud is drastically reduced. Consumers can ensure their real estate professional is licensed by visiting reca.ca.”
Report a scam or fraud
Anyone who has suffered a financial loss or has had their personal information compromised because of fraud can report it to the Calgary Police Service by contacting the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers using any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
If you have received a fraudulent text message, email or phone call but have not sustained a financial loss, please report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Calgary Fraud Prevention Month event
Join us and our Fraud Prevention Month partners at Market Mall where you can speak to representatives and receive information about how you can help identify, prevent and report fraud.
When: Friday, March 8, 2024, starting at 10 a.m.
Location: Market Mall – 3625 Shaganappi Tr. N.W.
Who: The following Fraud Prevention Month partners will be in attendance:
- Alberta Blue Cross
- Alberta Securities Commission
- Better Business Bureau Serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay
- Calgary Police Service
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Electronic Recycling Association
- Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA)
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- Service Alberta – Calgary Consumer Investigations Unit
- Service Alberta – Special Investigations Unit
Calgary Police Media release: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/fraud-prevention-month-launches-in-alberta/?fbclid=IwAR0T20kvY89JOMHv6MIKRvJAkswKwSpXfwHIN8LlOSC3zsUG2pbNnSZp2QQ