Reports of fraud are climbing in Alberta, and older adults in Medicine Hat area are among the people scammers want most. Canadians reported losing at least $704 million to fraud in 2025, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says. That is up from about $638 million the year before. The real total is likely far higher, with fewer than one in 10 victims ever filling a report. Scammers now use cheap tools to fake voices, emails and websites. Jeanne Pratt, acting commissioner of competition said AI has handed fraudsters “powerful tools to create highly convincing impersonations.” Fast online payments also make stolen money hard to trace. The number of reports have climbed in recent years, according to the centre. Seniors are a common target in fraud scams. Many have savings, own their homes and answer the phone. In a 2024 report, the centre says people 60 and older lose more on average than any other age group, about $21,600 per victim. Financial fraud costs victims the most. In a “bank investigator” scam a caller invents a scenario, such as saying your account has been hacked, and tells you to move money or hand cash over to a outlier. A real bank will never ask you to do that. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card. Investment scams promise big, guaranteed profits that never come. Online scams often arrive by text, web advertisements and email. These scams rush you to click a link, and then steal your passwords, banking details or ID. Do not click links you did not expect, and never give your SIN, health number or banking details to someone who contacts you first. The newest scam uses Alberta’s new health cards. The province warned in early July about texts claiming your physical card is “obsolete,” if it was issued before January 2023. The scam tells you to sign up for a new “Electronic Health Identification System through a link that leads to a fake website. Health cards are run by the province, not Ottawa, so a “federal” text about your card can be a warning sign on its own. The government will never send unsolicited text messages asking for personal or financial information. The danger of fraud is not far from home. On June 18, 2025, Medicine hat police released details of an incident where a couple was told a relative was in jail and needed bail money. They withdrew a large amount of cash, which a courier collected from them at their door. Police later charged three Medicine Hat people, aged 21, 22 and 23, with fraud and theft over $5,000. Medicine Hat has a high senior (60+) population, making it a hotspot for attempted fraud. Families can guard against these calls. Set a “safe word” only your household knows, and talk to a trusted friend, family member or neighbour before sending money. Most scams share the same signs, as well as one simple trick. Working on fear and speed. Watch for pressure to act now, threats of arrest and demands for secrecy. Be wary of anyone who asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer or cash by courier. Real police will never call to say there is a warrant for your arrest. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Your best defence is to slow down. Hang up. Then check with the real company or agency using a number you find yourself. How to report: — Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501, or use the online Fraud Reporting System. Report fraud attempts even if you did not lose money; — In Medicine Hat, call the Medicine Hat Police Service non-emergency line at 403-529-8481, or file a report at mhps.ca or on the MHPS app; — In RCMP areas, such as Redcliff, Bow Island, Maple Creek and other centres, call 310-RCMP (310-7267); — If you sent money, call your bank or credit union right away. They may be able to stop or trace it; — For a crime in progress or an emergency call 911; — To leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Canadians reported losing at least $704 million to fraud in 2025, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says. That is up from about $638 million the year before. The real total is likely far higher, with fewer than one in 10 victims ever filling a report. Scammers now use cheap tools to fake voices, emails and websites. Jeanne Pratt, acting commissioner of competition said AI has handed fraudsters “powerful tools to create highly convincing impersonations.” Fast online payments also make stolen money hard to trace. The number of reports have climbed in recent years, according to the centre. Seniors are a common target in fraud scams. Many have savings, own their homes and answer the phone. In a 2024 report, the centre says people 60 and older lose more on average than any other age group, about $21,600 per victim. Financial fraud costs victims the most. In a “bank investigator” scam a caller invents a scenario, such as saying your account has been hacked, and tells you to move money or hand cash over to a outlier. A real bank will never ask you to do that. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card. Investment scams promise big, guaranteed profits that never come. Online scams often arrive by text, web advertisements and email. These scams rush you to click a link, and then steal your passwords, banking details or ID. Do not click links you did not expect, and never give your SIN, health number or banking details to someone who contacts you first. The newest scam uses Alberta’s new health cards. The province warned in early July about texts claiming your physical card is “obsolete,” if it was issued before January 2023. The scam tells you to sign up for a new “Electronic Health Identification System through a link that leads to a fake website. Health cards are run by the province, not Ottawa, so a “federal” text about your card can be a warning sign on its own. The government will never send unsolicited text messages asking for personal or financial information. The danger of fraud is not far from home. On June 18, 2025, Medicine hat police released details of an incident where a couple was told a relative was in jail and needed bail money. They withdrew a large amount of cash, which a courier collected from them at their door. Police later charged three Medicine Hat people, aged 21, 22 and 23, with fraud and theft over $5,000. Medicine Hat has a high senior (60+) population, making it a hotspot for attempted fraud. Families can guard against these calls. Set a “safe word” only your household knows, and talk to a trusted friend, family member or neighbour before sending money. Most scams share the same signs, as well as one simple trick. Working on fear and speed. Watch for pressure to act now, threats of arrest and demands for secrecy. Be wary of anyone who asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer or cash by courier. Real police will never call to say there is a warrant for your arrest. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Your best defence is to slow down. Hang up. Then check with the real company or agency using a number you find yourself. How to report: — Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501, or use the online Fraud Reporting System. Report fraud attempts even if you did not lose money; — In Medicine Hat, call the Medicine Hat Police Service non-emergency line at 403-529-8481, or file a report at mhps.ca or on the MHPS app; — In RCMP areas, such as Redcliff, Bow Island, Maple Creek and other centres, call 310-RCMP (310-7267); — If you sent money, call your bank or credit union right away. They may be able to stop or trace it; — For a crime in progress or an emergency call 911; — To leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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