Strathcona County RCMP Warn Residents Of Charity Scam

July 12, 2023

Strathcona County RCMP warn residents of charity scam

Sherwood Park, Alta. – Strathcona County RCMP have been advised of a current scam that has been taking place inside businesses, particularly grocery stores in Sherwood Park. Individuals are approaching customers and showing them a piece of paper indicating they are hearing impaired and asking for donations. The individuals are not able to provide any organization or charity documentation.

If you see any red flags, or if you’re not sure about how a charity will use your donation, consider giving to a different charity. There are many worthy organizations who will use your donation wisely.

Scammers can try to pressure you to give a donation and refuse to provide details about the charity, such as their address or their contact details. In other cases, they may simply provide false information.

Not only do these scams cost people money; they also divert much needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes. All registered charities in Canada are overseen by the Canada Revenue Agency and listed in its database. You can also contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they have any information about the organizations that interest you. If the charity is genuine and you want to donate, get the charity’s contact details from a reputable source.