Fraud Prevention Month launches in Alberta

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.

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