News release

Don’t answer trouble: fraudsters keep trying to ring you in

March 27, 2026 - Edmonton, Alberta
From: Alberta RCMP

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Edmonton – This March, the Alberta RCMP will be sharing a variety of 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 the many ways that fraudulent activity negatively impacts their communities.

Today’s theme is mass marketing and phone scams, which may include any of the following:

• Spoofed phone numbers and calls
• Phone scams (tech support, airlines, etc.)
• Fraudulent telemarketers
• Mass mail-outs and subscriptions
• Emergency scam or grandparent scam
• Work at home schemes
• Canada Revenue Agency scams
• Foreign lottery and prize schemes
• Overpayment schemes
• Inheritance schemes
• Credit card interest rate reduction schemes

“In a world where mass marketing and phone scams grow more sophisticated every day, staying informed is our strongest defence. Educating ourselves, reporting anything suspicious, and using trusted resources like the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre empowers us to protect not only our own information, but our entire community.”

• Cpl. Sean Milne, Provincial Financial Crime Team, RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region

To better protect yourself, consider the following resources:

• Learn how to protect yourself from telemarketing and retail scams over the phone
• Learn about the many ways a scammer may target you by phone 
• Learn how a scammer may use email or text messaging to carry out fraud

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 agency and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca,  or by calling 1-888-495-8501. Be sure to contact your bank and credit card company if you believe your personal or financial information has been compromised.

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