The St. Paul RCMP have reported a rise in complaints about fraudulent activity and attempted scams in the area.
Most incidents involve scammers impersonating business representatives over the phone or email, attempting to steal personal information or money from victims.
“Most of these are occurring over the phone or email,” said Kellieka Formanek, public information officer with St. Paul RCMP. Scammers often use tactics such as making aggressive demands, requesting payment in gift cards, or instructing victims to avoid discussing the situation with others or their bank.
RCMP are urging residents to remain vigilant and cautious when responding to unsolicited calls or emails.
Some red flags to watch for, callers requesting payment in gift cards, aggressive or urgent demands for money or information, and requests to keep the situation secrete or avoid contacting your bank.
“If you receive an email or phone call that you think may be a scam, hang up or do not respond,” read the RCMP release. “Do not ever release any personal or banking information. If someone is asking you to purchase a large amount of gift cards, do not buy them or send the codes to anyone.”
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to their local RCMP detachment or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
