Strathcona County RCMP Warns Public of Increase in Phishing and Bank Impersonation Scams

June 18, 2026 - Strathcona County, Alberta
From: Alberta RCMP

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Strathcona County, Alta. – Strathcona County RCMP is warning residents about an increase in sophisticated phishing scams targeting community members.

In these incidents, fraudsters are contacting victims by phone while claiming to represent financial institutions. The calls may appear legitimate, as caller ID can be manipulated to display the name and phone number of a bank. Fraudsters advise victims of alleged suspicious transactions on their credit cards or bank accounts and then request account information, passwords, or verification codes to “secure” the account. Once this information is provided, fraudsters gain access to the victim’s accounts and transfer funds.

In some cases, fraudsters instruct victims to cut up their bank card and advise that a courier will be sent to collect the card. Although the card appears damaged, critical information remains intact, allowing fraudsters to continue using it. The collected cards may then be used to withdraw funds and make unauthorized purchases.

Strathcona County RCMP would like to remind the public that while banks may contact customers regarding suspicious transactions, they will not ask for passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs) or arrange for couriers to collect bank cards. Financial institutions can freeze accounts or stop transactions without requiring customers to provide sensitive information over the phone.

If you receive a suspicious call, consider the following tips:

• Hang up and contact the company directly using the phone number listed on the back of your bank card, account statement, official website or by attending in person.
• Never provide passwords, PINs, verification codes, or banking information to an unsolicited caller.
• Do not click on suspicious links contained in emails, text messages, or social media messages.
• Be cautious of caller ID information, as it can be spoofed to appear legitimate.

If you believe you have been the victim of fraud:

• Contact your financial institution immediately.
• Report the incident to your local police service.
• Contact Equifax and TransUnion to place fraud alerts on your credit file.
• Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and remember: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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