REGINA – The Regina Police Service (RPS) is sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in fraudulent schemes targeting residents through impersonation of representatives from well-known charity lotteries like STARS and various social media accounts and news websites.
Police estimate losses have already surpassed $1 million. 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.”
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.
