March is Nation Fraud Prevention Month and the Beaumont RCMP would like to remind residents to be vigilant with their personal information. Canadians fall victim to frauds every day causing significant financial losses. Most don't think it could happen to them, but fraudsters use sophisticated ways to target people of all ages. The impact of fraud on individuals, families and businesses can be devastating. Retirement savings, homes, businesses and in some cases, lives have all been lost.

Frauds often front as banking or credit card services, government agencies, and even customer service representatives. Posing as seemingly trustworthy sources, scams con victims into providing their personal and, in most cases, financial information. Learning how to detect potential fraud is your best defence against falling victim to the crime. Alberta RCMP shares the following tips on how to spot a scam:  

• Calls from unfamiliar area codes or numbers. Emails from unknown senders or addresses. 
• Online or over the phone requests for immediate payments or money transfers, i.e. e-transfers, gifts cards, etc.
• When personal or financial information is requested via text, or email.
• Pre-recorded phone messages or voicemails from banks or government agencies. 
• Be extra cautious when dealing with cheques from unknown parties.
• If you’re unfamiliar with how cryptocurrencies work, you should avoid dealing in them.

If you are unsure of whether or not you are being targeted by a scam, check with family or friends, or visit the Government of Canada’s website to learn about common scam-types and how to protect yourself against them. 

If you have been the victim of a fraud, report it to your local law enforcement and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Contact your bank and credit card company if you believe your personal or financial information has been compromised. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is Canada's repository for data, intelligence and resource material related to fraud. It provides information to assist citizens, businesses and law enforcement in Canada and around the world. For up-to-date information and to view a list of common scams visit www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501 to reach the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

For more fraud prevention information, follow @RCMPinAlberta on Facebook and @RCMPAlberta on Twitter.