Strathcona County RCMP is warning residents of a rise in scams involving grants and loans.
These scams take many forms, such as an advertisement or even direct messages.
Recently, police say they've seen people being contacted through Facebook messenger by a friend telling them about a free grant from the government.
These messages are actually sent by scammers who have hacked into the Facebook account.
During the process of getting the grant, the scammer will ask for personal information and an upfront fee, which is where they get the money.
Ways to prevent being a victim of scams include not giving out personal information and being wary of strange messages from friends.
"Government grant and loan services are offered free of charge by government departments or agencies. If you are being asked for an upfront fee, it’s a scam," the RCMP wrote in a release.