By rdnewsNOW staff

heads up

Red Deer RCMP warn of email fraud

Jan 13, 2021 | 9:18 AM

Red Deer RCMP are warning the public of recent incidents where fraudsters impersonated a business colleague in an attempt to defraud multiple individuals.

Red Deer RCMP says they were alerted to incidents of fraudsters using savvy email fraud for financial benefit. Two separate organizations reported to RCMP that multiple individuals had received an email that appeared to be from a colleague.

In the email, the recipient was asked to purchase a large quantity of gift cards as a favour to the individual sending the email. However, the email was found to be fraudulent as it was not from the individual it appeared to have been sent by.

The Red Deer RCMP remind the public of the following tips to protect from fraud:

· Verify unusual email or phone requests. Ensure the email address is correct and call the individual directly, confirming their identity and the request made in the email.

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· Prepaid credit cards, Google Play, Amazon, iTunes and other types of gift cards are commonly used in fraudulent activity. Be wary of any request to procure or to provide payment in this format.

· Be wary of providing any personal information by phone, email or text.

· If something feels off, trust your gut.

· Do not be intimidated by high-pressure tactics.

Red Deer RCMP ask the public to report all fraud attempts, whether they are successful or not. Information on these types of activities can help prevent others from being targeted, and potentially aid in apprehending the suspect.

If you think you are a victim of fraud, call the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. You are also encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca.