Jasper RCMP received at least a dozen complaints about fraud over the course of one week in May.
Although the nature of the incidents vary, the majority of the complaints involve people impersonating the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
According to police, the bulk of the fraudulent calls are believed to have come from outside the country, making it difficult to investigate, however the RCMP will be making a concerted effort to address the recent spike in complaints.
"Fluctuations in crime patterns are not uncommon. It is in both the police and public鈥檚 best interest to educate themselves on how best to address these criminal elements to prevent further victimization,鈥� said RCMP Const. Robert Benison, who is also the detachment鈥檚 media liaison.
鈥淕iven the wide variety of sources of fraud occurring, our primary goal at this time is educating the public on fraud in order to prevent further people from falling victim."
To report deceptive telemarketing, contact the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
CAFC is the central agency in Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence on matters like mass marketing fraud, advance fee fraud, Internet fraud and identity theft.
If you suspect you may be the victim of identity theft or fraud or if you unwittingly provided personal or financial information, contact your local police detachment. Identity theft can occur via Internet, telephone, fax and even regular mail.
The RCMP recommend people be particularly wary of unsolicited e-mails, telephone calls or mail attempting to extract personal or financial information.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
