Anyone can fall for a scam. It’s important to talk about your experiences to help keep other people from making the same mistake. SONiC 102.9 has partnered up with the Edmonton Police Service to share real stories from Edmonontians to help you learn the signs of a scam.

 

1. Romance Scam

A man received a message through an online dating service from a woman from the US working overseas with her nine-year-old son. A few months into their online courtship, she started asking for money for things like fixing her phone, paying for a plane ticket back to the States, or her son’s medical bills. If he didn’t offer enough money, she would cut off contact for a couple of months before sliding back into his DMs to accept any money he had. Eventually, his bank interfered and the Edmonton Police Service looked into it. By the end of the scam, he lost $143,000.

Get tips to avoid romance scams at edmontonpolice.ca/romancescams.

 

2. Gift Card Scam

A woman lost $245,000 over a three-month span after she received a call from a scammer, claiming to be a Fraud Investigator from her bank and saying that her account had been compromised. After collecting personal information such as names of family members, her daily routine, and more, the scammer told her to take money out of her bank account and send it back to him in the form of gift cards. After a few months of sending the scammer gift cards, the employee at a store the woman was trying to buy $2,000 worth of gift cards at became suspicious and contacted the Edmonton Police Service.

Get tips to avoid phone scams at edmontonpolice.ca/phonescams.

 

Remember: scammers prey on emotions, whether that’s fear, love, panic, or guilt. Take a step back from what they are telling you and think about the legitimacy of the situation. If this call seems out of the blue, or they’re requesting payment through Bitcoin or gift cards, treat it as a scam. If you’re still not sure, talk to someone you trust; family, friends, or the Edmonton Police Service (780-423-4567).

Trust your gut, and speak out if you think someone you care about or a customer may be falling for a scam. Never be embarrassed about reporting fraud, the police are here to help you and will never judge you.

 

Find more fraud prevention tips at edmontonpolice.ca/fraud.