The Lethbridge Police Service is alerting residents in Lethbridge, Alberta, about a growing number of overpayment scams where fraudsters trick people into sending back extra money. This warning was issued on March 18, 2026, to help protect community members from losing their savings during transactions with strangers.
In these scams, a fraudster sends a payment for more than the required amount and then asks the victim to return the difference. The original payment is eventually found to be fake or counterfeit, which means the victim loses the money they returned and receives nothing for the item they sold.
Red flags for this scam include buyers who claim to be out of the country or who pressure victims to return money quickly through e-transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, residents across the country lost over $704 million to various frauds in 2025.
Sergeant Kevin Talbot of the police force noted that only about 5 to 10 per cent of fraud cases are actually reported to authorities. To help residents stay safe, officers held community education events on March 5, March 10, and March 25, 2026, at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, Nord-Bridge Senior Centre, and the Cor Van Raay YMCA.
Police advise anyone who receives an overpayment to cancel the transaction immediately. Residents should only return payments through the original method after the funds have fully cleared the bank.
