ARTICLES

Kyle Duchcherer, previously reported as missing has been located and is safe. 

The Medicine Hat Police Service would like thank members of the public for their assistance in this matter.

On March 9, 2020 at about 10:15 p.m. a call was received about a single vehicle accident on Industrial Avenue SE at Iron avenue SE. A 2018 Hyundai Sonata with a lone female operator was travelling east bound on industrial avenue SE when it entered the ditch causing about $12000.00 damage to the vehicle. The female driver was arrested at the scene and is facing charges of impaired driving and exceed .08. The female driver suffered minor injuries.

One of the most common types of reported fraud are mass marking scams, also known as phishing scams. The word phishing comes from the way it is done, fraudster will replicate a valid company and send out emails that act as a lure to attract potential victims. The more lures (emails) used the more potential victims that can be reached. Phishing scams not only occur over the Internet but can also occur over the phone or traditional letters mailed to the general public.

Look out for emails, phone calls or letters claiming that you have won a prize but need to call in or respond to an email to verify your winnings. Often times you will be asked to call in to a 1-900 number, which require you to pay a price, sometimes up to $6.00/minute or a flat rate/phone call. Some phishing scams will appear to be from an institution you are currently involved with and will ask that you to provide some personal information such as; a credit card number, or social insurance number. This should be a warning sign as your financial institution will already have this information on file.

There are several ways to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams:

• Never respond to unsolicited requests from a company requesting personal information.
• If you receive a notification that you have won a prize from a contest that you have never participated in, do not respond to it.
• Block 1-900 phone numbers from calling you through your local telephone provider.
• If you receive a request from a company you are currently involved with, whether you work for them or are a client, and they are requesting money or personal information, contact that institution directly to confirm the details.
• If you receive unsolicited mail, either via email or regular mail, do your research on the company before conducting business with them. The Better Business Bureau is a great resource to confirm if they are a legitimate business with a positive reputation.

The best rule of thumb to protect yourself is to always be skeptical. Educate yourself on ways to protect your hard earned money and seek advice if you are concerned that something might be a scam. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website (www.antifraudcentre.ca) is a great resource and contains information about many different fraud types.

Media Contact:

Sgt Darlene Garrecht
Medicine Hat Police Service
Community Safety Unit
Ph: 403-580-7043

Update to Disturbance:

The call for service in the area of Eagle Birth Rd SW is complete and traffic flow in this area has been restored. Police are also pleased to report that there were no injuries sustained by anyone as a result of this incident. Thank you to the public for their patience and for refraining from attending this area.

Members of the Patrol Section are currently in the area of Eagle Birth Rd SW (Teepee) dealing with a call for service involving a disturbance involving several parties. Please refrain from attending this area as police are on scene and traffic in the area is slow moving.

Patrol Staff Sergeant

On March 3, 2020 at approximately 2:11PM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service and Medicine Hat Fire Services attended to a vehicle fire in the 2200 block of Box Springs Blvd. The fire was quickly contained and no injuries reported. Damage estimated at $6,000.

The investigation is on going to determine the cause of the fire.

Media Contact:

Sgt Gerald Sadlemyer
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471

On March 3, 2020, at approximately 12:30 PM, a call was received from a male who sounded distressed and who was threatening to harm himself. A short time later a vehicle was located at the corner of Maple Avenue and Prince Street that was possibly related to the male caller.

As officers approached the vehicle on foot, the lone male occupant yelled at them to ‘get back’ and the officers observed that the man was holding a knife to his chest. Officers moved away from the vehicle and moments later the man drove the vehicle into the exterior wall of a business located in the 500 block of Maple Avenue.

Following the collision, the 27-year-old male was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act and transported to hospital for treatment of injuries that occurred as a result of the collision.

No one inside the business was injured. The damage to the vehicle and building is estimated to be in excess of $50,000.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt Trevor Humphries
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada and each week the MHPS Community Safety Unit will be sharing information on how to recognize and stop from falling victim to common frauds and scams. This week’s focus is on cybercrimes and online scams.

Cybercrime makes up a large component of all reported frauds and scams reported each year and can include any type of fraud/scam committed over the Internet. These can include; romance scams, online investments or marketplace scams, employment, loan, ticket sale or phishing scams.

With our reliance on Internet related technology, fraudsters have become very tech savvy and are able to obtain a lot of personal information which can lead to identity theft and misuse of your credit card and banking information.

Each year, especially around tax return time, the Medicine Hat Police Service will observe an increase in the number of complaints received from people reporting a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam.

In most cases, the caller will identify themselves as being from the CRA and accuse the person of owing money and will also make threats to have the person arrested and charged. The scammer will direct the person to purchase iTunes gift cards or other type of gift card to pay off their debt and instruct them to call back with the card codes. The cards will then be used by the scammer to sell on the black market.

Sometimes, the scam will vary slightly and the caller will identify themselves as a police officers and advise the victim that their Social Insurance Number (SIN) has been compromised, and request that the victim confirm their SIN over the phone.

To protect against these common frauds, it is important to remain vigilant and NEVER provide personal or financial information over the phone. Likewise, never comply with an unsolicited phone caller who demands payment in gift cards.

Always remember:

• The CRA will never call and threaten to have you arrested for not paying your taxes.
• The CRA will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards or prepaid credit cards.
• If you are contacted and told you owe money, always confirm with the CRA directly. Look up the phone number online and do not use the call back number that the caller has provided. Do not trust your call display. It may say Police or ABC but in reality it is a scammer.

If your workplace sells gift cards, you can help by being on the lookout for potential victims and inform them about this scam. Victims may seem stressed and agitated and purchasing a large amount of gift cards.

If you or someone you know is a victim of the CRA scam or any other fraud contact the Medicine Hat Police Service at 403-529-8481 to report.

Due to the extremely high volume of fraudulent call attempts, if you have received a fraudulent call but are not a victim (meaning you have not shared your personal information, bank information, and have not made any payment) then there is no need to report or contact police

For more information about these and other common frauds and scams visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

Media Contact:

Sgt Darlene Garrecht
Medicine Hat Police Service
Community Safety Unit
Ph: 403-580-7043

March 2020 marks the 16^th anniversary of Fraud Prevention Month in Canada.  Fraud Prevention Month is a month-long crime prevention initiative aimed at educating and informing consumers and the community on how to recognize, report and stop fraud.

Thousands of Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life are defrauded each year. There is no typical fraud victim in Canada. With advancements in technology it is now easier for scammers to obtain money or property through fraudulent means and to remain “faceless” as they do so.

Consumers have a role to play in stopping fraud by arming themselves with the facts and reporting fraud when they encounter it.  Recognizing fraud is the first step to better protecting yourself. It is important for consumers to remain vigilant and aware of the many different types of fraud scams out there as they are ever changing and new trends are always emerging.

Throughout the month members of the Medicine Hat Police Service Community Safety Unit will be sharing information about common frauds, scams and tips for individuals and businesses to protect themselves.

·  March 3 - 10AM to 2 PM- Coop Mall on 13^th  Avenue – OPEN TO PUBLIC

·  March 4 - 1PM – Park Place Meadow Ridge Seniors Village

·  March 5 - 2 PM – Medicine Hat Retirement Villa

·  March 9 - 10 AM – The Wellington

·  March 19 – 11 AM – River Ridge

·  March 24 - 6:30 PM – General Fraud Prevention Information

o  MHPS Community Boardroom

o  Presenters: MHPS Community Safety Unit, MHPS Major Crimes Section, and the Better Business Bureau. 

o  This event is free and open to the general public to attend.

·  March 26 - 2PM – Revera Meadowlands Retirement Residence

·  April 15 – 11:30 AM – Cyber Security 101 for Business / Not For Profit

o  MHPS Community Boardroom

o  Presenters: MHPS Community Safety Unit and ATB

o  Event sponsored by APEX Alberta

o  To register:  https://cybersecuritybanking.eventbrite.com

To keep yourself in the loop about Fraud Prevention Month activities occurring provincially, follow the hashtag #FPM2020 and #fightfraud on social media or visit the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association website at www.albertacrimeprevention.com/fraud-prevention-month.

For more information about frauds and scams visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.

Media Contact:

Sgt Darlene Garrecht
Medicine Hat Police Service
Community Safety Unit
Ph: 403-529-8451

A Redcliff resident has been charged with counterfeiting and property offences following an investigation completed by the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) Priority Street Crime Unit (PSCU). The investigation was initiated after a series of counterfeit bills were passed at various local businesses. Tips submitted by community members assisted investigators in identifying a suspect.

On February 28, 2020, the MHPS PSCU, together with the Redcliff RCMP, executed a search warrant at a residence located in the 500 block of Broadway Avenue East, Redcliff, AB. Several counterfeit American bills and other evidence of counterfeiting was located in the residence. In addition, investigators located several items of stolen property including credit cards and pieces of stolen personal identification.

Resulting from this investigation, a 24-year-old male, Austin Lane of Redcliff, AB is charged with; possession of counterfeit currency, making counterfeit money, possession of material for counterfeiting, possession of credit card data, possession of identification documents, and multiple counts of possession of stolen property.

Lane was held for a bail hearing and released on a $200 cash release order. He is due back in court on March 5, 2020.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt Cory Both
Priority Street Crimes Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-581-1056

On March 1, 2020 MHPS received a report from a partnering Law Enforcement Agency of a female being taken against her will and forced into a black Chevy Cruz car with Saskatchewan licence plates. The incident was witnessed in Saskatchewan resulting in the emergent call for service by Saskatchewan RCMP. The Chevy Cruz car was reportedly travelling in the direction of Medicine Hat and MHPS was subsequently notified. Members of MHPS patrols located the Chevy Cruz entering the City and officers attempted to stop the vehicle however the vehicle fled from the police. Given the nature of the call and the serious and imminent risk to the female held against her will, patrol members pursued the vehicle in attempt to stop it. After extensive efforts by MHPS patrols, support units within the MHPS and assistance from other Police Agencies, a 34 year old Regina male suspect was taken into custody for various criminal offences including flight from police, dangerous driving, disqualified driving, domestic violence and breach of probation. MHPS is pleased to report the female in the vehicle is fine and there was no injury to the suspect or police. The Service would like to thank members of the public for their assistance on this serious call for service.