A new type of scam is starting to pop up all over the country, most recently in Alberta.

Ever since Interact implemented a new deposit and withdrawal system. Scammers have found a way to use it to their advantage. 

Corporal Sean Milne, who works for the RCMP Provincial Financial Crime Team, talks about how the new scam works. 

“You send a request to somebody in your contact list for a certain amount of money and if they accept it, the money is automatically taken out of their account and sent to you. Scammers are approaching people who are selling things on online platforms, like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace, and they're saying they are interested in the item you're selling. In fact, they’re so interested that they’re willing to send you a deposit to hold it.” 

From there, Milne says the scammer will give a cover story as to why their deposit will arrive in French. 

“Instead of sending an e-transfer, they will send an e-request. It'll all be in French. Because the seller is expecting something to be coming from the scammer and expecting it to be in French.” 

"If people don’t decipher it, or if they don’t speak French, they don’t realize that it’s a request instead of a transfer. So as soon as they click accept, the money leaves their bank account and goes to the scammer'" says Milne. 

Milne went on to say that so far, in Alberta, there have been reports about these scams in Strathcona County and Leduc.