In the past month, the Regina Police Service (RPS) has seen an increase in fraud cases, which are specifically targeting the general public through impersonation of representatives from well-known charity lotteries like STARS and various social media accounts and news websites.
One ongoing scam involves fake election news ads that falsely promise high investment returns, claiming individuals can earn profit within a month from a $350 deposit. Scammers rely on AI-generated deep fake videos of public figures to falsely assert the investment is government-approved and “no investors will lose their money.” Reported losses to RPS are expected to exceed one million dollars.
In another separate scheme, victims receive phone calls from someone posing as a STARS Lottery employee who claims they have won a prize. For example, the caller might claim the victim has won a new vehicle and must pay the delivery fees in order to receive it. The caller then instructs the victim to send a payment, often in the form of a money order or gift cards.
RPS wants to remind citizens to stay vigilant and to remember the following:
- Legitimate organizations, such as STARS, will never ask for payment to claim a prize.
- Do not share personal or financial information over the phone, by email, or through unfamiliar sites.
- Verify the source before clicking on links or responding to any ads.
- Hang up and contact the organization directly if something feels off.
- Once you have been victimized, be cautious of “recovery” schemes. A scammer connected to the first scammer may promise to be able to recover your lost funds for a fee.
If you believe you are a victim or suspect someone is trying to defraud you, contact police immediately at 306-777-6500. Please call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.
You must be logged in to post a comment.