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Albertans could soon see stronger protections against online scams and digital extortion as the provincial government moves forward with a new cybercrime task force aimed at tackling a growing and increasingly complex threat.

Cybercriminal activity continues to rise across the province, with families, seniors and businesses all being targeted through sophisticated schemes designed to steal money and personal information. Many of these operations originate outside of Canada, making enforcement and prevention especially challenging for local authorities.

In response, Alberta’s government is bringing together a cross-ministry task force that will focus on developing a coordinated strategy to combat cybercrime in all its forms—including fraud, identity theft and online extortion.

“We have seen too many examples of extortion threats across our province. This is unacceptable and it’s why Alberta is taking action to develop a coordinated provincial strategy to stop these scammers from extorting families in our communities,” said Justice Minister Mickey Amery.

The task force will be chaired by Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South, who emphasized the importance of adapting to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, which are increasingly being used in cybercrime.

“With growing uses of artificial intelligence, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this task force, working together to mitigate risks of cyber fraud, identity theft and extortion for the benefit of Albertans,” Stephan said.

The initiative will bring together experts from across multiple sectors, including law enforcement, technology, consumer protection and government ministries. Participating departments include Justice, Public Safety and Emergency Services, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Technology and Innovation, as well as Intergovernmental and International Relations.

Among its key priorities, the task force will explore new ways to protect Albertans from scams that rely on impersonation, intimidation and deception—tactics often used to pressure victims into sending money or sharing sensitive information.

Recommendations are expected to focus on strengthening legislation and regulations, while also advocating for federal support to better address cybercrime that crosses international borders.

What to do if you’re targeted

Officials are reminding Albertans to act quickly if they suspect they are being targeted by a scam:

• Contact your financial institution immediately
• Notify a credit bureau to protect your identity
• Report the incident to local authorities or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

As cyber threats continue to evolve, officials say awareness and quick action remain some of the most effective tools in protecting individuals and communities from financial harm.

To see some of the common text scams currently in circulation, visit the Government of Alberta website at www.alberta.ca/common-text-scams.

For more information on cybersecurity, visit the following link to the Government of Alberta website at www.alberta.ca/cybersecurity-in-alberta.

Information from this article was sourced from the Government of Alberta website.