St. Paul RCMP reminds people to be aware of scams and cybercrime

LAKELAND – St. Paul RCMP are reminding residents to be on the lookout for scams and cybercrime after receiving a recent report of a person being tricked into buying and sending someone gift cards.

The report was received by police on November 15 and the St. Paul RCMP want to offer the public some tips to help prevent scams.

“If you did not enter the competition, you are not a competition winner,” reads information released by the St. Paul RCMP. Plus, if you’re notified that you’ve won content, you’ll never have to send money to claim your prize.

“Do not give out any personal information or send money to anyone who asks for it,” the RCMP said in the information.

And if something in the call seems suspicious, just “hang up.”

Cybercrime

Residents are also reminded to be aware of cybercrimes, which can range from phishing to identity theft.

“Cyber ​​criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, making it vital for Albertans to remain vigilant and informed,” reads information released Nov. 20 by the St. Paul RCMP.

“As more of our personal and financial information moves online, protecting against these digital threats is critical,” according to the RCMP.

Speaking on this topic, St. Paul’s Staff Sgt. Dennis Silliker says, “We encourage our community to protect their information online. Do not disclose information that may be considered confidential. Let’s keep our community safe.”

The St. Paul RCMP encourages everyone to remain vigilant against common cyber threats.

“Beware of unsolicited emails, text messages or social media posts asking for personal or financial information. They may appear to be from legitimate sources, but are often designed to steal your data,” according to RCMP.

Also: “Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or unverified sources, as they may contain malware or viruses.”

Fraudsters often create fake websites that look very similar to official sites. This is used to trick users into entering sensitive information.

Police are advising people to monitor their online accounts for any strange activity, such as unexpected password changes or transactions they haven’t authorized.

“Be wary of job offers that seem too good to be true or require upfront payment. Fraudsters often use fake job offers to collect personal information,” according to RCMP.

Police are also asking people to be skeptical of “high-yield investment opportunities, especially those that involve little to no risk. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Creating strong and unique passwords for each online account can help protect information. Police are also urging people to regularly check their bank accounts and credit card statements for any suspicious activity.

Knowing about the latest cyber threats and scams is a good way to protect yourself from cybercrime.

“If you suspect you have been a victim of cybercrime, please report it to your local RCMP office or through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-8501.”