10/29/2026
With the holiday season fast approaching, the Cardston RCMP is encouraging residents to stay vigilant and recognize the warning signs of fraud. Increased online shopping, parcel deliveries and seasonal fundraising campaigns create opportunities for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals.
Taking a few simple precautions and understanding how common scams operate can go a long way in protecting your money, personal information and peace of mind during the holiday season.
• Be cautious of unfamiliar websites or social media ads offering hard-to-find or high-demand items at unusually low prices. Fraudsters often set up fake stores that collect payments without delivering products.
• Never use gift cards to pay someone who contacts you demanding payment for goods, services, or fines. Legitimate organizations will never ask for payment this way.
• Fraudsters may pose as charitable organizations during the giving season. Always verify charities through the Canada Revenue Agency’s registered charity list.
• Be wary of emails or calls pretending to be from your bank, a retailer, or government agency. Do not share personal or financial details unless you have confirmed the source.
• When buying or selling through online platforms, meet in public, well-lit areas and avoid sending money to people you haven’t met in person.
• Don’t click on links or attachments in unsolicited messages.
• Verify the sender by double-checking email addresses and phone numbers for subtle spelling errors or inconsistencies.
• Shop through trusted, secure websites and use traceable payment methods only
• Review your bank and credit card statements regularly for suspicious activity.
• Keep your devices updated and maintain current antivirus software and system updates.
• If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scam, contact your local RCMP detachment and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
