The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and community partners are raising awareness to help protect Edmontonians from fraud.
EPS will join provincial community partners to shine a spotlight on fraud prevention and help residents protect themselves from financial crime. Throughout Fraud Prevention Month, partners will be sharing practical tools, raising awareness, and as a result reducing victimization across the city.
Over the course of the month, partners will be using social media, outreach campaigns, and educational materials to highlight the most frequent types of fraud, which include frauds involving the use of artificial intelligence (AI), investment fraud, online scams, phone/mass marketing scams, and relationship scams.
The need for awareness is significant. In 2025, more than 4,000 frauds were reported in Edmonton, with losses exceeding $58 million. Investment and cryptocurrency scams accounted for the largest financial impact with approximately $25 million lost, followed by compromised credit or debit accounts, identity theft and phishing scams. Investigators believe the real numbers are even higher, as many victims never report what happened.
“Fraudsters are getting more creative, and many are now using AI to make their scams more legitimate and convincing,” says Detective Scott Abbott with the EPS Financial Crimes Section. “We want people to know that even the most tech-savvy individuals can be targeted. If something doesn’t quite sound right, or if a message seems urgent or unusual, it’s important to pause, verify, and reach out to someone you trust. Taking a moment to double check can be the difference between staying safe and becoming a victim.”
Because fraud crosses jurisdictions and takes countless forms, strong partnerships are essential. By working together, EPS, and its community partners are helping ensure Edmontonians have the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves in an increasingly complex digital world.
Partners participating in Fraud Prevention Month include RCMP, Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta Securities Commission, Better Business Bureau, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Electronic Recycling Association, Real Estate Council of Alberta, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association, Crime Stoppers, Servus Credit Union, and Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch.
Quotes from our partnering agencies
“Fighting fraud is not a one agency mission. It takes all of us. We need to share intelligence across partners, encourage the public to report every instance of fraud, and work together to amplify our resources so Canadians get clear, consistent education on this issue year-round.”
— Insp. John Lamming, Officer in Charge of Financial Integrity and Cybercrime, RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region
“Fraud can take a serious financial and emotional toll on individuals and families, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to exploit emerging technology. Fraud Prevention Month is a reminder for Albertans to stay alert, ask questions, and protect themselves. Alberta’s government will continue to work with law enforcement and community partners to raise awareness, support victims, and make sure consumers have clear, trusted information to make confident decisions.”
— Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
At the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA) we are pleased to partner with our police and law enforcement agencies, community, agencies, and consumer groups to chair Alberta Fraud Prevention Month. March is a month of crime prevention initiatives aimed at educating and creating awareness in how to recognize, report and stop Fraud of any nature with our partners and communities.”
— Jean Bota, ACCPA Executive Director
“A safer community is a connected community. Share what you know, ask questions, and help stop fraud before it starts.”
— Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch Program Society
“As Alberta’s largest benefit provider, Alberta Blue Cross has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the plans entrusted to us. Fraud and plan abuse ultimately impact employers, plan members, and the sustainability of benefits for everyone. Fraud Prevention Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness, reinforce vigilance, and underscore our commitment to preventing fraud wherever it occurs.”
— Brian Geislinger, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement with Alberta Blue Cross.
“Outdated electronics are one of the most overlooked fraud risks. Proper reuse, secure data wiping, and responsible recycling are essential steps in protecting Canadians from data breaches and identity theft.”
— Bojan Paduh, Founder & President, Electronic Recycling Association
“Crime Stoppers plays a role in fraud prevention by giving people a safe, anonymous way to report suspicious activity, helping law enforcement stop fraud schemes before more victims are affected. Whether you live in Edmonton or a rural community, that information can help prevent further harm.”
– Chris Holtz, President – Crime Stoppers Association of Edmonton and Northern Alberta
"The Better Business Bureau Serving Alberta and East Kootenay is honoured to once again take part in Fraud Prevention Month. We know scams and scammers are getting more sophisticated. However, we also know these same scammers can be stopped through scam prevention knowledge and taking action. Together with all of our partners, this month represents a meaningful opportunity to reach consumers and businesses and provide them with invaluable information on how fraud and scams can be prevented this month and every month."
–Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen, President and CEO, The Better Business Bureau
“Today’s most common investment scams move quickly and leverage technology and social media, making them harder to detect. Albertans should be cautious of anyone promising guaranteed returns or low risk, high reward opportunities as these are major red flags. We are proud to partner with organizations across the province during Fraud Prevention Month to raise awareness of investment fraud and to provide trusted resources, such as those available on CheckFirst.ca, that can help Albertans make informed decisions.”
–Hilary McMeekin, Director of Communications and Investor Education with the Alberta Securities Commission
“As fraud becomes more sophisticated, it’s critical consumers ensure they are working with a licensed professional. RECA licenses and regulates real estate, mortgage, property management and condominium management professionals across Alberta to help protect the public. Before you sign anything, verify your professional’s licence using RECA ProCheck, and visit recaprotects.ca for consumer fraud prevention tips.”
– Stacey Paquin, Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Council of Alberta
Follow EPS on social media and visit Edmontonpolice.ca/fraud for more information on common scams and how to spot them.