MHPS puts focus on phone scams to wrap Fraud Prevention Month

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 25, 2026.

The Medicine Hat Police Service is shining its spotlight on common phone and mass marketing scams during the fourth week of Fraud Prevention Month.

These common frauds are an attempt to obtain personal information and pressure victims into spending money by impersonating someone the victim trusts, a legitimate business or government agency.

One of the most common phone scams is known as the “grandparent or emergency” fraud that typically targets senior citizens.

Fraudsters may call a victim and pose as a relative in trouble who urgently needs money transferred. Scammers often tell victims not to reach out to other families to prevent them from getting in trouble, requesting a quick payment.

Police say in these situations it’s important to “slow down and verify the story” by contacting another family member or trusted friend to verify.

Red flags residents are reminded to keep in mind include being told to keep the situation secret or not speak to family members or friends, as well as being pressured to act “right now” or threatened with an arrest, account closure or financial penalty.

Other common tactics used by fraudsters include using spoofed phone numbers that make calls appear to come from local numbers, as well as well-known organizations that use “high-pressure language” to persuade immediate payments by e-transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency or credit card information.

“If you are unsure, end the call and contact the organization directly using contact information you locate independently,” reads the public announcement.

Other common frauds include work-from-home schemes, prize or lottery scams, inheritance scams, overpayments scams and offers that request personal and banking information.

Police say it’s important to not send money or share any personal information due to pressure, threats or urgency and to avoid clicking on links, opening attachments or confirming personal or banking information.

To protect yourself, take your time, ask questions and independently verify who you are dealing with, police say.

Residents who believe they have become a victim of a scam or are being targeted are encouraged to stop communication and keep records, including screenshots, emails, phone numbers and receipts, and contact your financial institution immediately if you provided banking information or sent money.

Fraud can be reported to the MHPS by calling 403-529-8481, or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

According to police, Hatters were scammed out of more than $4 million through online and phone scams in 2025.