Leader staff

This March, the Alberta RCMP will be sharing tips and resources in support of the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association’s (ACCPA) Fraud Prevention Month campaign.

The campaign seeks to educate Albertans on how fraud affects their communities.

This week, ACCPA and other supporting agencies including the RCMP, are focusing on identity theft and fraud. This includes identity theft and fraud, phone scams, email scams, mail theft and security of documents and/or shredding.

To protect yourself from identity theft and fraud, consider the following: Shred personal and financial documents, check your mail regularly, check your various accounts regularly for any unusual updates, and share any strange experiences with friends and family.

“Identity fraud is one of the most common forms of fraud in Canada,” says Cpl. Sean Milne of the Alberta RCMP Provincial Economic Crime Team. “Criminals will often steal a person’s identity to commit other crimes such as fraudulently applying for loans or credit cards, opening bank accounts, transferring bank funds and more.”

If you are unsure of whether or not you are being targeted by a scam, visit the Government of Canada’s website to learn about common scam types. If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to your local law enforcement and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at antifraudcentre.ca.