Cryptocurrency and romance scams cost nine Huron County residents more than $943,000 over a two month period.
According to Huron OPP, between August 30 and October 31, eight residents were led to believe their money would be invested in the stock market and in cryptocurrency, while one other resident was sucked into a fake romantic relationship and deceived into sending $80,000 to a fraudster.
The age of those who were defrauded range from 55-years-old to 85-years-old. A South Huron resident suffered the largest loss - $401,000.
The investigations are continuing, with police noting that such scams are on the rise across the county.
In order to avoid becoming a victim, police advise residents to never give out personal information such as name, address, date of birth, or banking details. They add not to accept friend requests from unknown people, not to invest in platforms from unknown people, never send money to someone you've not met in person, and not to reply to a text from a phone number you don't recognize. As well, police said fraudsters will also use explicit pictures to extort their victims into sending money so you should be careful who you share intimate images with.
Over the first nine months of the year, more than 23,000 Canadians have reported to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre that they have fallen victim to scams with losses totaling over $544 million. However, police suspect that number is much higher as only an estimated 5 to 10 per cent of people report being scammed.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of fraud, where they lost money or not, can call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or report it online on the Fraud Reporting System available at antifraudcentre.ca.
