Sherwood Park, Atla. - Strathcona County RCMP warns the public of a Facebook messenger scam that is targeting seniors.
The scam, which begins with a message that appears to come from a friend's Facebook messenger account, advises of a Federal Government grant for seniors. If you respond, you will then be asked to send your full name, home address, age and other personal information and to provide a fee of $1500 or more to access a grant between $100,000 and $200,000.
Scammers have been requesting the fee payment through Amazon, Apple, Stream or Google gift cards. This is a scam. Do not respond to these messages.
“No legitimate government agency, business or financial institution will ever ask you to make a payment with gift cards,” says Constable Chantelle Kelly of the Strathcona County RCMP Detachment. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
If you have received similar messages, please advise the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or report the incident onlinehttp://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/reportincident-signaleri… you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or financial information unwittingly, contact the Strathcona County RCMP Detachment at 780-467-7741.