Alberta Securities Commission (ASC)
The Alberta Securities Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province’s securities laws. At WSAC, we share the ASC’s mission: to foster a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and protect investors.
UPDATES FROM OUR FRIENDS AT ASC
As part of our commitment to financial wellness and seniors’ fraud prevention, we’re excited to partner with the ASC to bring you valuable resources and updates. From time to time, we’ll be highlighting investment tips and fraud alerts from their organization to help you make informed decisions and stay safe from financial scams.
Below is the update from the ASC!
Investing in the age of apps and finfluencers: How to stay safe when finance is trending
By Rebecca Vargese – July 3, 2025
As investing becomes more accessible through social media and mobile apps, it’s also become easier to fall for hype, trends, and even scams. This article from CheckFirst.ca offers timely tips to help you make smart financial decisions, recognize red flags, and protect your money—especially when “finfluencers” are involved.
Read the full article for practical tips to stay safe in a digital world of investing.
Protect yourself from social media, romance, and recovery room scams
With crypto back in the headlines, fraudsters are increasingly using tactics like recovery room scams to target victims a second time. These scams involve impersonators posing as regulators, recovery agencies, or law enforcement, claiming they can recover lost crypto for a fee.
Reminder: Neither law enforcement nor the Alberta Securities Commission will ever contact you to recover funds for a fee. Any unsolicited offer like this is a red flag.
Stay alert for signs of fraud and revisit our Top 3 crypto scams article for tips on how to protect yourself.
Understanding Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a plan used for holding savings and investments for retirement. RRSPs allow you to reduce your taxable income today by the contributions you make and allow your investments to grow untaxed until you make a withdrawal at a later date, likely in your retirement. Learn more about RRSP accounts and what you should consider when investing in one.
Upcoming workshops and events
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Virtual event | Recognizing and avoiding investment scams presentation for the Edmonton Chapter of the Alberta Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual event | Starting your investment journey in partnership with the Edmonton Public Library
Investment Terms Fun Fact
What is a robo-adviser?
A robo-adviser is a digital platform that provides relatively low-cost automated investing services without the human interaction typical of working with a financial advisor.
Investment Caution List
Did you know The ASC provides a searchable list of companies and individuals that are not registered in Alberta but appear to be engaging in activities that require registration under Alberta securities laws, or may be an investment scam.
This article was originally published on the Alberta Securities Commission’s (ASC) investor education website CheckFirst.ca. The ASC is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province’s securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to improve, coordinate, and harmonize the regulation of Canada’s capital markets.
