* Federal consumer agency investigating industry

* Alberta vows to get rid of “predatory lending”

* Debt counsellors state oil employees turning to payday advances

* Industry states alternatives that are unregulated more serious

By Matt Scuffham

TORONTO, April 25 (Reuters) - Canadian authorities are upgrading scrutiny of payday lenders over worries they've been preying on susceptible customers at the same time of record household debt and increasing jobless in oil-producing areas.