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Local RCMP issue alert as scammers get more aggressive

The Bonnyville RCMP is urging residents to be on their guard as scammers continue to target locals, particularly seniors. Last week alone, the local detachment received at least 10 complaints from people who had received scam calls.

The Bonnyville RCMP is urging residents to be on their guard as scammers continue to target locals, particularly seniors.

Last week alone, the local detachment received at least 10 complaints from people who had received scam calls. The most prominent scams being pushed in Bonnyville are the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) scam and the lottery scam.

While the scams aren't a new occurrence in the area, the criminals on the other end of the phone are upping their tactics.

"We're getting up to a year at least now. It seems to go away a little bit when we do a big push to educate the people of our community, but then it comes back. It seems to target the seniors," said Cst. Laura Carroll with the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment. "Callers are getting more and more persistent. They're using more and more scare tactics on the people they're trying to get money from, including stating that a warrant will be issued for them or an officer will attend their house to get money."

With the CRA scam, residents are receiving automated calls and ones from people claiming to be from the CRA or RCMP. The caller states that there is money owing to the CRA and if they don't send the funds immediately, they'll be arrested.

"For the CRA scam, we hear that citizens, often seniors, receive a very persistent and demanding phone call from someone claiming they are from the RCMP or CRA," explained Carroll. "One of our seniors in our community paid by iTunes gift cards. I want that to be a really big red flag to those in our community. The CRA doesn't ask for money by way of gift cards or through Western Union."

When it comes to the lottery scam, locals are getting calls indicating they've won cash or prizes. Scammers are saying they're calling on behalf of a large company, and telling residents that in order to claim their prize they have to first send money for fees and taxes.

"We hear almost the exact same story every time with the lottery scam, the only difference being what company is giving away the prize. We hear they received a call stating they won the Western Lottery, or a car from Readers' Digest, or whatever company. In order to claim their prize they need to Western Union $300 or $400."

Carroll added, "That is not how these things work. A legitimate company wouldn't ask you to pay up front in order to receive a prize."

While the CRA and lottery scams are the main ones targeting residents in the area, those aren't the only scams out there.

Carroll said the first things people need to remember when they get a suspicious call is to hang up the phone immediately and never give any information.

"They don't owe anything to the caller. They shouldn't try to get off the phone politely, just hang up."

If there is the possibility of a call from the CRA or lottery being legitimate, the best option is to still hang up and call them back by the number listed in the phone book.

For those who have been targeted by a scam, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca. Victims of scams should also contact the Bonnyville RCMP at 780-343-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

"The most important thing is awareness. I want everybody who reads this article or hears this in the news to tell their family and friends about it, especially those that are seniors in our community," said Carroll.

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