Local police look to raise awareness during Fraud Prevention Month

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 5, 2025.

Throughout March, the Medicine Hat Police Service will share information on how to recognize and prevent common frauds and scams during Fraud Prevention Month in Canada.

The month-long crime prevention initiative seeks to educate consumers and community members on the wide range of scams used by fraudsters, and current trends and tactics that are being constantly changed by criminals.

“Frauds continue to victimize thousands of Canadians annually, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars being stolen from them,” reads a press release. “Medicine Hatters are not immune to these scams.”

This week the MHPS Community Support Unit is focusing on relationship scams. These scams prey on individuals seeking a longing friendship or relationship by exploiting that individual for the purpose of financial gains.

According to police, the first communication often begins through a friend request, or by someone liking a publicly shared photo.

These interactions may develop for months or even years with the victim truly believing that the suspect has feelings for them and has their best interests at stake.

However, the true intention of the suspect is to convince the victim to send money to help them pay bills, or to pay for a flight to visit the victim.

“In some cases, the victim’s friends or relatives realize the relationship is a fraud and must convince the victim who is deeply invested in the relationship,” reads the press release.

Police say another common scam is the “grandparent scam” and have released several public warnings of this particular phone scam that seeks to extort money for its victims instantly.

Criminals typically target senior citizens and pretend to be a family member who is in trouble and needs money sent quickly. Some scammers say they are in jail and need money for bail, while other variations include the scammer having been involved in a serious accident or needing money while travelling.

“Often the scammer will attempt to convince the victim that they need money within a quick timeline and request for the victim to keep the circumstances secret to not create embarrassment for them or their family.”

Police say another way scammers can extort money from victims is by using information they have obtained “often” through social media that can include inappropriate photographs and private information.

Police say the best way to defeat these scams is by not providing money to anyone you don’t know well, especially over the internet.

“It is recommended that you ask somebody you trust about the situation. A review of these types of situations by someone not involved will often give a fresh perspective and typically lead to stopping the fraud,” reads the release.

Police also remind residents that the internet is forever and, “We need to be cautious of anything, including words, photos or videos, that we post could be used against us.”

More information about Fraud Prevention Month in Canada can be found by visiting the anti-fraud centre’s website and by following MHPS on Facebook.