ASSINIBOIA — Fraud is continuing to impact residents in Assiniboia, with local RCMP warning that scammers remain active and persistent in the community.
The Assiniboia RCMP released the latest copy of their newsletter for the first quarter of 2026.
Fraud is still a concerning factor and this communication affirms that the detachment received 16 calls for service regarding fraud, with nine of those calls being the STARS lottery/prize scams.
“Unfortunately, STARS continues to be a favourite target for scammers. If you recently received a phone call from “John Logan” and “Christine Foster”, you weren’t alone. This pair was causing all kinds of havoc in town. While most people did not fall for their story, a few did. Here’s things to remember about lottery/prize scams:
- In Canada, if you win a lottery, you are not required to pay any fees or taxes in advance
- STARS Saskatchewan Lottery is not currently open (typically runs from April-August)
- If you haven’t bought a ticket, you can’t win
- These tickets are sold online, by phone OR at the STARS base only.
Assiniboia detachment received two calls with regard to ongoing grandparent emergency scam.
“While it seems like there’s a story about this happening every other week on the news, it continues to happen. We CAN NOT stress how important it is for people to speak with their elderly parents/family/friends and make sure they are aware of these scams. It is highly recommended to have a designated person to call in the event someone in the family receives this call," outlines this quarterly newsletter.
Things to remember:
- If you receive a call claiming to be a family member in distress, hang up and call that person directly.
- If the caller claims to be law enforcement, hang up and call your local police directly
- Bail money is paid only at the court house. Police will never ask you to provide cash, gift cards or Bitcoin
- Listen to your inner voice telling you something’s not right
Two cryptocurrency calls were received by Assiniboia’s RCMP detachment in this reporting quarter.
“Frauds involving cryptocurrency continue to be frequently reported. You should take caution and do some research before jumping into cryptocurrency to ensure you are doing so with a reputable company. Keep in mind:
Once a cryptocurrency transaction has been completed, it is very unlikely to be reversed
Verify if the investment company is registered with the Provincial Securities Agency.
Beware of fraudsters that ask you to open and fund new crypto accounts. They will direct you to send it to a wallet app, which they control
If you are asked to “approve” access to your wallet instead of requesting a password, don’t do it! This gives control of your funds to the third party.
Three calls for online purchasing were reported.
“Does that PS5 for sale on Facebook Marketplace for $100 sound too good to be true? It probably is. Garage sale sites are an easy target for scammers due to being able to reach large audiences in different areas. That being said, it’s not always just garage sale sites that cause issues. Over the years we have had several people fall victim to large scale purchase (vehicles, machinery parts etc.) scams. Always do your due diligence when shopping online," says the Assiniboia detachment.
If purchasing from marketplace, only buy from people you know are local, or try to find an “in common friend” to confirm their identity
If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Trust your gut!
“We’ve said it before, and we will say it again — if you are ever unsure of a phone call, mail, emails etc., please call or stop by the detachment to ask. You are not bothering us. We would much rather take 10 minutes to speak with you than you be out hundreds or thousands of dollars.”
The newsletter also outlines that in June 2020, Saskatchewan became the first province to implement Clare’s Law. Also known as The Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol, this allows police services to disclose certain risk-related information to a current or former intimate partner to assist in making informed decisions about their safety and relationship. Please refer to the newsletter for full details on this information.
Another reminder from your community RCMP detachment for residents: if you have information regarding a crime in Saskatchewan, you can submit an anonymous tip in one of the following ways:
- Online — www.saskcrimestoppers.com
- Call — 1-800-222-8477
- App — Download P3 Global Intel Top Management Software on your mobile device (available on both Apple and Android devices).
If your tip results in information leading to the arrest and solving of a crime, you may receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. Calls are not traced or recorded and callers do not have to identify themselves. The tips you provide may assist your local detachment in reducing criminal activity.
