This guide is produced by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta and is intended to help you find out information about consumer frauds and scams that could affect you. If you have already been impacted by one of these schemes or think you might have been, contact information for agencies that can help you has also been included.
These online videos are provided by the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association and cover a range of topics such as gangs, drugs and a number of different types of fraud.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the central agency in Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence on mass marketing fraud (telemarketing), advance fee fraud letters, internet fraud and identity theft complaints. Their website provides descriptions of many types of scams. Anti-fraud specialists in their Call Centre provide advice on the steps that victims should take to recover lost funds and to protect themselves in the future. The CFAC (formerly PhoneBusters) is jointly managed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Competition Bureau of Canada.
The Alberta Securities Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province’s securities laws. This page provides a link to “Spot the red flags” informaton on how to recognize and avoid investment scams.
In Alberta, most companies that sell products door-to-door must be licensed under the Consumer Protection Act and the Direct Selling Business Licensing Regulation. Door-to-door sales people sell everything from encyclopedias and magazines to home improvements. If a contract is signed in person,negotiated or concluded away from the seller’s usual place of business, it is considered a direct sale.
When someone uses personal information such as your name, Social Insurance number (SIN), credit card number or other identifying information without your knowledge or permission, it is identity theft and it is a crime. This tipsheet provides information on: how businesses and community groups can raise awarenes of identity theft, how to protect your identity when you are away from home, and how to report ID theft.
This tipsheet provindes information to help Albertans protect themselves from being an unwilling participant in mortgage fraud. If you are going to invest in real estate, make sure you are using a licensed mortgage broker is is registered under the Real Estate Act in Alberta.
This comprehensive resource from the RCMP describes sixteen Internet scams, twelve in-person scams, and three telephone scams. It also includes illustrative scenarios along with a glossary and a list of useful links.
On this webpage the Canada Revenue AGency provides information and helpful resources for Canadians on various consumer scams and fraudulent schemes. Learn more about:
This information on reporting fraud is prepared by the Edmonton Police Service. It provides information on how to report a fraud to the police when you’re a victim
Every year, Canadians lose millions of dollars to the activities of scammers who bombard us with online, mail, door-to-door and telephone scams. The Little Black Book of Scams is a reference guide with information Canadians can use to personally protect themselves. It offers information on how a variety of common scams work and how to recognize them, as well as practical tips on how consumers and businesses can protect themselves.
The Consumer Protection Act protects consumers from unfair business practices before, during or after a consumer transaction. See also: Canadian Legal FAQs on Alberta consumer protections at https://www.law-faqs.org/alberta-faqs/consumer-law/
