Hockey Alberta cautions families in Alberta about a recent scam targeting minor hockey associations in the province. The scam involves fraudulent requests for money under the guise of legitimate tournament participation. The provincial hockey governing body highlighted a surge in dubious tournament emails that closely resemble official communication channels and registration forms.
Angie Thiessen, a tournament coordinator with the McKnight Hockey Association in Calgary, expressed dismay over the situation, emphasizing the negative impact on young hockey players who often fundraise to participate in tournaments. Thiessen noted the heightened activity during the fall as newly established minor hockey teams vie for sought-after tournament slots.
The scam came to light when Thiessen received an inquiry from another hockey association member regarding a suspicious email claiming acceptance into an upcoming tournament hosted by McKnight and requesting a fee. It was later confirmed that the email was fraudulent, and similar incidents were reported by other associations in the province.
Various minor hockey associations, including Knights Hockey Club in southeast Calgary, Trails West Hockey Association in southwest Calgary, and Devon Minor Hockey in southwest Edmonton, have alerted their members to the fraudulent tournament scheme. A Hockey Canada spokesperson mentioned no knowledge of similar scams in other provinces.
While no money was sent in the reported case, Drew Dixon, Hockey Alberta’s director of membership, acknowledged instances where teams fell victim to the scam. The scammers leveraged legitimate tournament details to invite teams via different email addresses and solicit payments.
To prevent such scams, Dixon emphasized the importance of vigilance and awareness among registrants. He advised verifying the legitimacy of tournament invitations, especially cross-referencing contact details with official sanction information before making any payments. Tournament fees typically range around $2,000, with variations based on the association.
Hockey Alberta aims to raise awareness of potential red flags and educate participants on safeguarding against fraudulent activities. Host associations typically require teams to apply for tournament spots, making unsolicited invitations a key warning sign. Dixon stressed the importance of thorough verification before conducting any financial transactions to mitigate the risk of falling prey to such scams.
