Calgary, March 6: In the backdrop of many frauds being reported in the province, the Alberta government is observing the month of March as the Fraud Prevention Month.
Fraud Prevention Month is an opportunity to remind Albertans who have applied for and are receiving affordability payments to continue to be vigilant against fraudsters. During this month, an effort is being made to remind the people that the government does not ever text people or make an unsolicited call to extract any personal information.
Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, has said, “I want to remind Albertans that the best way to fight fraud is to be educated about them. The more information you have, the less likely you’ll be a victim.”
The Government of Alberta website has a number of resources to help consumers. The tip sheets help both consumers and businesses protect themselves in various transactions and market situations.
Consumers can also check online if a business is licensed and use the Business Enforcement Search Tool (BEST) to find out if action has been taken against an individual or business.
“The Consumer Protection Act and its regulations provide strong protection against unscrupulous business practices through remedies, enforcement tools and penalties intended to discourage unfair practices in the marketplace,” Nally said.
If you think someone has tried to scam or defraud you, report it to your local police agency or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. For business-related scams, you can report them to Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit by calling 1-877-427-4088.
Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice, said frauds and scams continuously increase due to advances in technology. Often, cases are under-reported out of embarrassment or fear of being judged. We encourage all victims to come forward with their stories. The more knowledge authorities and the public have about fraud activities, the harder it is for criminals to find victims.”
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