03/12/2026
Annual meeting Notice
Our next upcoming meeting is going to be our annual general meeting. This year the meeting will be held at the Mountain View County office, March 26 2026 at 7:00 pm. We are still confirming speakers at this time.
A Message from the Chairman
Over the past 6 years as chairman, and a couple of years as vice chairman, I have had the privilege of meeting may great people, from the Police offices, county patrol, other board members, and of course the great members of the Olds Rural Crime watch. Over the past year it has come apparent to me that I do not have the time to adequately lead the organization, and at this year’s AGM, I hope that we are able to find some else to carry on the leadership of this great organization. I will still be around to carry on and finish any current programs, and ensure a smooth transition of leadership. If you or someone you know would like to take on a board position with the Rural Crime Watch, please feel free to send me an email at [email protected] or [email protected] and I will be happy to discuss the positions that we have available. Thank you all for this great experience and I hope to see you all at the AGM March 26th 2026 at the county office.
Jason Leach Chariman Olds Rural Crime Watch
March Is fraud Prevention month
Fraud is something that effects all communities, big and small, rural and urban. Fraudsters don’t just target the elderly, they target everyone. Here are some things to look out for, these tips specifically come from the Bank of Montreal, but the information is good and relevant to every other organization. More information on fraud and fraud prevention can be found on the Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch web page, https://www.ruralcrimewatch.ab.ca/crime/fraud-prevention
or at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center website, where you can report fraud, and gain access to information to help you if you have been a victim of fraud.
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
Fraudsters are becoming experts at pretending to be people you trust – including your bank, family members, colleagues, or government agencies – and reaching out through phone calls, texts, emails, and direct messages on social media.
Unfortunately, these fraudsters may now use AI-generated videos, pictures and voice cloning to make these impersonations even harder to detect.
Red flags:
Urgent requests. Fraudsters may claim there's a problem with your computer or accounts – and you need to send money or information immediately to resolve it.
Offers that seem too good to be true – even if they appear to be sent by someone you know. Be especially skeptical of offers, deals or investment opportunities you receive through social media or messaging apps.
Emails, texts and social media messages with links to websites that look just like the real websites of your bank or a government agency – but are fake and designed to trick you into giving up personal information.
Watch for:
Videos or phone calls where someone may look or sound familiar, but you notice unnatural speech patterns or body language.
Emails, texts and social media messages with poor grammar, spelling errors or URLs with unusual domains (for example, if you look closely, the domain is BM0.com with a zero, not BMO.com with the letter “O”).
Social media connections who attempt to move the conversation to a private channel, such as WhatsApp or text message.
Tips to help stay safe:
Slow down. Fraudsters often use urgency, familiarity or authority to catch you off guard.
Do not engage with unsolicited calls, emails, texts or social media messages. If something doesn’t feel right, hang up or delete the message and contact the person or company using verified contact information.
Do not click on links from unknown or suspicious sources.
Never give out any personal information on unsolicited contact, especially account numbers, passwords, PINs or credit card numbers.
Send a message to learn more
