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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Too good to be true

Alberta RCMP tackle investment scams in Fraud Prevention Month awareness campaign

Mar 21, 2023 | 2:23 PM

As part of the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association’s (ACCPA) Fraud Prevention Month campaign, the Alberta RCMP are sharing their tips for this week’s theme of investment scams.

The Alberta RCMP have been sharing a variety of tips and resources this March in support of the campaign, which includes a weekly theme and seeks to educate Albertans on the many ways that fraudulent activity negatively impacts their communities.

READ: Alberta RCMP is bringing awareness to business fraud and scams

This week, ACCPA, and other supporting agencies like the RCMP, are focusing on investment scams, including:

• Investment fraud via social media
• Ponzi or pyramid schemes
• Cryptocurrency schemes
• Real estate scams
• Offshore investing schemes

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To better protect yourself from investment scams, RCMP are asking Albertans to consider the following:

• Be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities
• Always get a second opinion
• Be suspicious of time-limited or high-pressure salespeople
• Research the investment for how it works, the risks and fees

“Investment scams often appear as business opportunities that are just too good to be true. Always be suspicious of unsolicited investment opportunities – even from friends and family members,” said Cpl. Sean Milne from the Alberta RCMP Provincial Economic Crime Team.

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 local law enforcement and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcentre.ca or by calling 1-888-495-8501. Mounties also note victims must call their bank and credit card company if they believe their personal or financial information has been compromised.