Hello again everyone. Well, summer is here and that can only mean one thing, right? The ARGRA Rodeo! Buckle up and head down to the rodeo grounds in Strathmore, just off Wheatland Trail, for the weekend of June 27th and 28th. It is going to be an amazing weekend of fun and entertainment. The ARGRA committee has worked incredibly hard to get some fabulous talent in for you, none moreso than The Village People and LeAnn Rimes. Hopefully you will be able to find the time to come and show support. I will be there all weekend, so come and find me and say hi; I look forward to seeing you there.
From a policing perspective, it has come to our attention that there are a number of scams that are doing the rounds, so I wanted to provide a bit of information for you.
Economic crimes are property offences, which victimize individuals or legal entities through the commission of criminal offences such as theft, fraud and fraud related offences. To report any type of fraud or theft call 403-266-1234 in the Calgary area, or contact the appropriate jurisdiction i.e. RCMP if outside the city.
Most scams are operated outside of Calgary. To report these, contact the appropriate jurisdiction or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) for telemarketing, Internet or email scams. CAFC is a reporting agency only.
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent becoming a victim.
Don't give out any personal or financial information over email or the phone. That is very seldom how a legitimate job application works.
Never deposit someone else's cheque, or wire money to a person or place you do not personally know and trust. If you receive a cheque in the mail attached to such a request, assume it is fraudulent.
Look carefully at the language of the ‘offer’. Errors in grammar and spelling, large and small, can be a tip that the email originated from a country in which English is not the first language. Not all employers from non-English speaking countries are certain fakes, but the detail is common to scammers.
Avoid companies that are located outside of the country that only offer foreign mailing addresses and phone numbers.
Avoid companies that advertise in unreliable locations such as classifieds, unsolicited emails, unsolicited letters and online websites.
Avoid secret/mystery shopper ads that demand money up front for training or signing up, or ones that pay you before completing any work.
Avoid ads that guarantee work without a screening process. Most legitimate providers are looking for something special and screen their applicants.
What to do if you become a victim of an economic crime:
Collect all the documents relating to the incident: contracts, written agreements and any other paper or digital information.
Put together a written statement in chronological order with the following considered: What happened; where it happened; how it happened; when it happened and in what sequence; who was and is involved.
If the offender is known to you call 403-266-1234.
If the offender is unknown you may attend a district office to make a report. You must be properly prepared to speak with police, or valuable time and leads will be lost. Correctly assemble a concise and organized account of what happened. If you have been caught in the middle, between the con artists and the investors, it can pinpoint the role you played and why.
Contact the right agency to report your type of crime. Jurisdiction is based on the type of crime and where the crime took place.
Remember that these types of incident, although on the increase, are still not common. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is! is never more appropriate. Common sense and the use of these tips should help limit your chances of becoming a victim.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns. Look after yourselves and each other, and I hope to see you at the rodeo! Talk to you soon.
