St. Albert, Alta. – St. Albert RCMP are sounding the alarm after a local senior lost nearly $100,000 to a sophisticated online scam over the past year.
The fraud began when the victim clicked on a Facebook ad promoting what appeared to be a Liberal Party investment opportunity. The ad, which authorities say was AI-generated and fake, led the senior to sign up for what they believed was a legitimate investment platform connected to the political party and its leaders.
After registering, scammers posing as investment agents contacted the senior through phone calls and online messages, encouraging them to transfer money for various “investment opportunities.” These transactions continued for months before the victim’s family discovered the situation and alerted authorities.
“This is a stark reminder that fraud can happen to anyone,” said the St. Albert RCMP in a statement. “Scammers are professional criminals. Their operations are increasingly sophisticated and convincing.”
According to national data, investment fraud cost Canadians $310 million in 2024 alone.
Police are urging residents to stay vigilant online, especially when engaging with ads or offers that seem too good to be true. They recommend checking the legitimacy of investment opportunities with official sources and never sending money or personal information to unknown contacts.
Anyone who suspects fraudulent activity is encouraged to report it. Reports help police identify crime patterns, track suspects, and adjust patrols.
Victims or concerned citizens can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. Suspicious activity can also be reported anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), www.P3Tips.com, or through the P3 Tips app.
Besides taxes and donations to the Party, the Liberal government hasn’t found a way to steal $100,000 from you, but given their track record, one could be forgiven for thinking that they’re working on it.
