Last year Hatters were scammed for more than $4 million through local and global frauds. Police are ramping up public awareness efforts leading into March Fraud Prevention Month in Alberta.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Hatters were scammed for more than $4 million in 2025 through local and global fraud-related crimes, according to the Medicine Hat Police Service.
On Wednesday night members of the Medicine Hat Police Commission heard that residents had been scammed for millions in online and phone fraud crimes, and only approximately 4 per cent was recovered because that money was sent to a local fraudster.
Sgt. Adam Gregory provided a shortened version of a presentation the Medicine Hat Police Service provides in collaboration with Medicine Hat Safe Community Association, which seeks to provide an overview of common frauds, local fraud statistics and tips to avoid becoming a victim.
“I don’t know if you were surprised at these numbers but when I started doing these presentations they were very disheartening and I was quite taken back at how much money just in Medicine Hat we are losing,” said Gregory. “I would imagine we are very static with other communities in Alberta and that’s a lot of money that’s going out of our country that could be going into positive things within our community.”
Last year police received 590 fraud-related calls for service and report 460 of these were considered online frauds that involve card frauds, mass marketing frauds, false claims and cheque frauds.
This compares to 2024 statistics that report Hatters lost more than $2.2 million to fraud-related crimes, and only approximately 1 per cent of the money was recovered.
Gregory explained that globally scammers and fraudsters make multiple billions of dollars every year and that frauds are an “ever-changing” crime that continues to adapt to the times.
“It changes with TikTok trends, it changes with the season, it changes with our holidays that are coming up, whether it’s Christmas,” said Gregory. “It’ll change if there’s disasters going on within Canada or somewhere else in the world, it is continually changing to keep that financial gain in the fraudster’s path.”
However, despite the changing methods these criminals use, their end goal is always about financial gains, says Gregory.
“The tricky thing for police is to stay on top of the different types of frauds that are going on. In the end, the goal of the fraudster doesn’t change, it’s always that financial gain, and the things that we need to do to prevent us from being victims don’t need to change either.”
Police say the No. 1 way to prevent any type of fraud is through communication with family, friends and other trusting individuals like neighbours.
“Often we’re about to identify that something is a fraud and we can prevent ourselves from losing that money,” said Gregory, who also encourages residents to call police if they believe a fraud has occurred.
“If you are the subject of what you think could be a fraud and you don’t have anyone else to talk to, or even if you do, contact the police service, that’s why we’re here.”
Police say the most common local frauds include scammers pretending to be officials with government agencies, known companies or providing investment opportunities.
Fraudsters also use phishing scams, romantic schemes and overpayment requests that are presented to victims in a deceptive way.
During his presentation Gregory highlighted the notorious “Grandparent Scam” used by those who typically pose as a relative who is a potential victim of an accident, or are in trouble, and request funds be sent to them immediately.
“The idea of this is to put pressure on the person they’ve contacted with to provide money, apply that timeframe and then ask them to keep it a secret because it’s embarrassing for the relative,” said Gregory, who said this scam is 100 per cent preventable if the victim reaches out and asks someone they trust.
“Undoubtedly this is going to lower the success of fraudsters within Medicine Hat and anywhere drastically. If we communicate with each other before we commit to something that seems like it could be a fraud, we are going to stop becoming victims.”
Other tips to keep money in Hatters’ wallets include never providing personal information unless you are certain, as legitimate organizations and agencies already have that information.
Police say to never pay any agency or business with gift cards or cryptocurrency, and always call a business back at their office number.
Police also remind residents that you will not win something you didn’t enter to win, and never to send money in any type of secret parcel.
March marks the 22nd anniversary of Fraud Prevention Month across Alberta and local police will be ramping up efforts to spread public awareness around the growing crime.
