PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM FRAUD:
A Message From
Your Community Police Officer
Cst. Dell, PEI RCMP
As your RCMP Community Police Officer serving Malpeque and the surrounding area, one of my priorities is helping residents stay informed and protected from frauds and scams. While PEI remains one of the safest places to live, online and telephone scams continue to affect people across the province—including right here in our community. Awareness is one of the best tools we have, and every resident, young and old, can play a part in preventing fraud.
Online Shopping Scams
One frequent scam affecting Islanders are online shopping scams. Scammers create fake online classified ads, counterfeit websites, or pressure‑based selling tactics. Scammers advertise items for sale online and request payment before the item is delivered.
How to protect yourself:
Check the seller’s profile. They will often have newer profiles with little activity. Look for posts and mutual friends that indicate if the seller actually resides in PEI.
Be cautious of extremely low prices or requests for quick payment.
Be cautious of sellers requesting payment by e-transfer prior to meeting in person.
Use trusted websites and verified sellers.
Search the photo of the item for sale on Google Image Search. If the same photo is found in various regions, the post is likely a scam.
Double-check website addresses and look for misspellings or unusual URLs.
If You Suspect a Scam
You’re not alone. Contact the RCMP or the Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) to report suspicious activity. Even if you didn’t lose money, your information helps protect others.
With awareness, communication, and community support, we can all work together to keep Malpeque safe from fraud.