The City of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, released a public warning on March 21, 2026, to help residents avoid grandparent scams. This type of fraud involves callers who pretend to be a family member in distress to trick people into sending money quickly. These warnings are part of an ongoing effort to keep the community safe from fraud.
Scammers often pretend to be a grandchild or an official like a lawyer, judge, or police officer. They may use computer-generated voices that sound exactly like a loved one to claim there has been an emergency. These criminals usually ask for payments through cash, gift cards, e-transfers, or digital currencies like bitcoin.
The local RCMP previously noticed a rise in these reports and continues to urge residents to be careful. Across the country, total fraud losses reached over $544 million by September 2025. In one recent investigation, the Saskatchewan RCMP charged two people after six victims lost more than $40,000.
To stay safe, authorities recommend that you always hang up and call your family member back on a number you know is theirs to verify the story. You should never give out personal information or send money to someone who calls unexpectedly. Officials also suggest being suspicious of any request to send money through a courier or a ride-share driver.
