Edmonton police sound alarm on different types of frauds

Fraud is on the rise in Edmonton. Community members came together to raise awareness on how to avoid falling victim to scams.

Police say Edmontonians lost more than $48 million in 2024.

“I was so invested and still to this day it’s hard. All the stuff was there and he was definitely telling me what I wanted to hear,” said Heather Robicheau, a romance scam victim.

In 2010, Robicheau thought she had found the love of her life, with an online relationship that lasted over a year.

“He would tell me his daughter was in the hospital with malaria. He needed money for medication. He said that he had a friend that he owed him $5,000 and he said he’s gonna send you the cheque. You cash it because if you send me the cheque the bank is gonna take the money because I owe them,” she explained.

But the cheque was fake, and the man she loved wouldn’t talk to her.

“He said I don’t remember you. I was in a car crash. I had amnesia, I just don’t trust anybody now. It’s affecting my life. My social life. Like I’m scared to death to fall for anybody,” Robicheau explained.

Det. Scott Abbott, who works in financial crimes for the Edmonton Police Service says, “When we talk about hundreds of millions nationally and 48.1 million just in edmonton. That is a significant amount of money for people in edmonton that they’re losing.”

According to Edmonton police, the top scams of 2024 in Edmonton were investment-related with $14.1 million lost.

Romance scams claiming $1.7 million, and $1.3 million lost to employment fraud.

“The seniors are more of them romance or maybe the grandparents and the younger ones are maybe more tied to that investment scam. You could look at it that way. Some are increasing therefore we need to increase combatting it,” explained Abbott.

March is fraud prevention month, and police are working with community partners to remind Edmontonians not to share any personal or financial information.

“It targets all of us every day an education and sharing that information with people who are vulnerable in our lives is gonna make the biggest difference in terms of targeting and stopping those scams,” said Julie Matthews, a board member for the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association.

And that’s why Robicheau is sharing her story, to prevent others from getting scammed.

“If someone is talking to you immediately with loving words. They have a sobbing story about their wife. They’re in a crisis. Just don’t because they’re eventually gonna ask for money,” said Robicheau.