January 10, 2024

OPP ask everyone not to pay the con artists and scammers

South Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking residents to continue watching out for cons and scams five reports of successful scams in December 2023. Successful in that the con artist made money. This same message can apply to all residents

Between December 11, 2023, and December 29, 2023, the South Bruce OPP received 5 reports of Fraud with losses totaling nearly $500,000:

• Online purchases made through a fraudulent website - $97 USD
• Two incidents of E-transfer made to help a "grandchild" - $3,000 each time
• Crypto exchange through a fraudulent site - $140,000 USD
• Crypto investing through a fraudulent online broker - $338,000

Tech-savvy scammers use technology to create very convincing schemes to trick you into sending them money. They will commonly use the name of a real company to gain your trust so that you will send money or personal information to them.

The South Bruce OPP is offering you some tips to help protect you from a con artist:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
• Remember that you can't win a contest that you didn't enter in the first place.
• If you have a concern about your computer, take it to a reputable repair shop for service. Do not provide remote access to a "tech" that calls you out of the blue
• Gift cards are a red flag. If someone contacts you and directs you to buy gift cards, you need to hang up the phone.
• Your best defence is to verify any unsolicited contact. Unsolicited means that you didn't ask for it.

Fraud is a multi-million-dollar enterprise that will only end when they stop making money.

Anyone interested in more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1 888 495 8501 or check online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca.

The South Bruce OPP is requesting anyone with information to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at www.cstip.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.

 

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