Join us on Wednesday, June 24th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. for a workshop on Scam and Fraud Prevention.  Cost is $15.00 and registration is required by calling the Church office at 780.430.7275 or emailing contactus@riverbendunited.org.  Handout materials and light refreshments will be provided.

Our presenter: Julie Matthews 

• Julie Matthews is a self-proclaimed fraud nerd. She tours around Western Canada educating seniors, businesses and communities about how to spot the latest frauds and scams. She is passionate about fraud prevention and delivering scam awareness tips in-person to even the smallest communities.
• Julie was an Investigative TV reporter for 19 years including 10 years as Global TV Edmonton’s Troubleshooter. She then traded her microphone for a badge, becoming a peace officer and senior investigator with the Government of Alberta’s Consumer Investigations Unit for a decade.
• She is now the national spokesperson for the Canadian Anti Scam Coalition’s Stand Against Scams campaign. She is a certified fraud examiner and has a weekly segment on CFCW radio called “Scam Alert.”
• She has been recognized with numerous awards for her efforts to protect Albertans including the Alberta Consumer Champion Award and Solicitor General and Public Security Crime Prevention Award.

• Fraud continues to be one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada, and keeping up with the latest scams has never been more challenging. Today’s fraudsters are highly sophisticated and technologically savvy, using convincing tactics to reach people online, by phone, through email and text messages, on social media, in the mail, and even at the front door. Seniors remain among the groups most frequently targeted.
• This presentation will help you understand how modern scams work, how to recognize common red flags, and what steps to take if you or someone you care about has been targeted or victimized. Education is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce fraud and protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.
• We will explore a wide range of current fraud tactics, including AI-driven scams, phone and impersonation scams, email and text fraud, and social media schemes. Participants will see real-world visual examples to better understand how these scams appear and why they are so convincing. Despite hundreds of millions of dollars lost by Canadians each year, fraud continues to be significantly under reported, allowing criminals to operate with little resistance.
• Former Global TV Edmonton reporter and peace officer Julie Matthews shares personal experiences, practical tips, and clear strategies to help you spot scams before they cause harm. She will be available to answer your questions and openly discuss the latest scams. Let’s fight fraud together!