Fraud Prevention

Protecting Yourself from Financial Fraud

At Legend Financial Services Ltd., we take fraud prevention seriously. Financial fraud costs Canadians billions of dollars every year. We want to help you recognize, avoid, and report fraudulent activity.

Common Types of Financial Fraud

• Investment fraud: Unsolicited offers promising guaranteed high returns with little or no risk. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
• Identity theft: Someone uses your personal information to open accounts, obtain credit, or commit crimes in your name.
• Phishing: Fraudulent emails, texts, or calls that appear to come from legitimate organizations, designed to trick you into revealing personal or financial information.
• Affinity fraud: Scammers target specific communities, religious groups, or professional organizations, exploiting trust within the group.
• Advance fee fraud: Requests for upfront payments to receive a larger sum of money, prize, or service that never materializes.

Warning Signs

Be cautious if you encounter any of the following:

• Guaranteed returns or “risk-free” investments
• Pressure to act immediately or “limited time” offers
• Unsolicited contact about investment opportunities
• Requests for personal or financial information via email or text
• Unregistered individuals or companies offering financial products
• Complex strategies that are difficult to understand or explain
• Difficulty withdrawing your money or receiving returns

How to Protect Yourself

• Verify registration: Confirm that any individual or firm offering investment products is registered with your provincial securities regulator. In Alberta, check the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) website.
• Do your research: Investigate any investment opportunity thoroughly before committing funds. Consult a trusted financial advisor.
• Protect personal information: Never share passwords, PINs, or Social Insurance Numbers via email, text, or phone unless you initiated the contact.
• Monitor your accounts: Regularly review account statements and credit reports for unauthorized activity.
• Be skeptical: Question unsolicited offers and take time to think before making any financial decisions.

How We Protect You

Legend Financial Services Ltd. takes the following steps to protect our clients:

• We will never ask for your passwords or PINs
• We use encrypted communications and secure data storage
• We verify client identity before discussing account details
• Our advisors are registered and regulated professionals

Reporting Fraud

If you suspect you have been a victim of financial fraud, or have been approached by someone you believe is committing fraud, contact the following:

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
• Alberta Securities Commission: 1-877-355-4488
• Local police: Contact your local law enforcement agency
• Legend Financial Services: Contact us immediately at 780-935-4470

Resources

Learn more about fraud prevention from these trusted Canadian resources:

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
• Alberta Securities Commission (ASC)
• Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
• Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)

Contact Us

If you have concerns about fraud or suspicious activity related to your accounts, please contact us immediately: