LAKELAND - St. Paul RCMP are reminding residents to be aware of scams and cybercrime after receiving a recent report where a person was scammed into buying and sending gift cards to someone.
The report was received by police on Nov. 15, and St. Paul RCMP want to offer the public a few tips to help deter fraud.
"If you did not enter a contest, you are not the winner of the contest," reads the information released by St. Paul RCMP. Also, if you are told you won a content, you will never have to send any money to collect a prize.
"Do not give any personal information or send any money to anyone asking for it," reads the information from RCMP.
And, if anything about a call seems suspicious, simply "hang up."
Cybercrime
Residents are also being reminded to be wary of cybercrime, which can range from phishing scams, to identity theft.
"Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, making it vital for Albertans to stay vigilant and informed," reads information released by St. Paul RCMP on Nov. 20.
"As more of our personal and financial information moves online, protecting yourself from these digital threats is critical," according to RCMP.
Speaking to the topic, St. Paul Staff Sgt. Dennis Silliker says, “We are encouraging our community to protect their information online. Don’t release any information that could be considered sensitive. Let’s keep our community safe."
St. Paul RCMP encourages everyone to stay vigilant against common cyber threats.
"Be wary of unsolicited emails, text messages, or social media communications asking for personal or financial information. These may appear to be from legitimate sources but are often designed to steal your data," according to RCMP.
Also, "Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or unverified sources, as they may contain malware or viruses."
Scammers often create fake website that will look very similar to official websites. This is used to trick users into entering sensitive information.
Police recommend people keep an eye on their online accounts for any strange activity, such as unexpected password changes or transactions they did not authorize.
"Be cautious of job offers that seem too good to be true or require upfront fees. Scammers often use fake employment offers to collect personal information," according to RCMP.
Police also ask people to be skeptical of "high-return investment opportunities, especially those with little to no risk. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Creating complex and unique passwords for each account online can help protect information. Police also encourage people to check their bank accounts and credit card statement regularly for any suspicious activity.
Being aware of the latest cyber threats and scams is a good way to defend against being a victim of a cybercrime.
"If you suspect you’ve been a victim of cybercrime, report it to your local RCMP detachment or through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501."
