Provincial Police say they have seen a dramatic increase in residents falling victim to frauds in the area.
Any person requesting money or gift cards over the phone or internet is likely a scam.
OPP are offering you some tips to stay safe including:
-Do not give money in order to collect a prize.
-Do not give out personal information, i.e. banking information or Social Insurance Number, date of birth
-If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
-Be cautious if the caller asks for cash, gift cards or money order
-Do not get caught up in time constraints. If the caller tells you the offer is time sensitive and pressures you to make a decision, it is probably not a legitimate deal.
-If you receive a call for a charity, ask for and check the charity’s registration number online or call the Canada Revenue Agency toll free at 1-800-495-8501. Also, be aware of anyone who thanks you for a pledge you haven’t made.
-If you receive any e-mails falsely claiming to be from an established legitimate organization such as a financial institution, business or government agency. The e-mail may request or direct the consumer to visit a certain website to update or provide personal and/or financial information and passwords. It is really a malicious attempt to collect customer information for the purpose of committing frauds. Do not allow anyone to access your computer unless YOU contacted the company.
If you suspect you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501.
