Canadians have lost hundreds of millions of dollars to scams this year, and the Saskatchewan RCMP is warning the public about a trick involving social media accounts that you might normally trust.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's records say $362.7 million has been lost by Canadians through the first nine months of 2022. As of August 30, only a little over $1 million has been recovered.

Police are warning you to beware of any friends messaging you on social media telling you that you won money. Your friend's account will likely ask you to pay an advance fee or send them a gift card, while keeping the winnings a secret, before they pay you.

It's likely your friend's account has been hacked, if this happens.

You can report suspicious activity to your local police detachment or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.