A fraudulent canvasser collected $10,000 while going door-to-door on behalf of a cancer victims in Red Deer, Alta., say RCMP.

Police were called by a suspicious resident Thursday after getting the man's name and checking it with the Canadian Cancer Society.

The Alberta/NWT Division of the Canadian Cancer Society told the resident it ended its annual door-to-door canvass in 2008.

The resident called police who responded immediately, arresting the man in the area and charging him with numerous fraud charges.

Police believe nearly 600 people in the Red Deer area were cheated with the amount of pledges obtained in excess of $10,000.

Police are trying to contact the victims through information obtained from the pledge sheets recovered from the suspect.

Potential victims are asked to call the RCMP at (403) 343-5575.

Red Deer police are also warning the public about a group of people canvassing door to door claiming to be raising money for the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut, shooting.

Police urge donors to protect themselves by:

• Never providing personal information such as your bank account information, social insurance number, date of birth, credit card numbers or PIN at the door or over the telephone, unless it’s something you’ve initiated
• Dealing only with reputable charities — do some background research to make sure they are who they say they are
• Not allowing yourself to be pressured into immediately making a donation
• Always requesting a tax receipt.