Following another set of scams targeting elderly citizens in Wellington County, the OPP is reminding the public about ways to spot frauds and potentially avoid becoming a victim of a scam.
Constable Matthew Burton, media relations and community engagement officer with the Wellington County OPP, says there are many types of scams out there, including phishing scams, which use unsolicited texts, phone calls, or emails to get people to unknowingly reveal personal information, including financial details.
"Essentially, they know nothing about you but they will ask for information and whatever you give them, they now know. We also see a lot of investment frauds. So scams involving fraudulent investment platforms or deceptive advisors who will lure victims with promises of unusually high returns," Constable Burton stated.
Unfortunately, many of these scams target vulnerable or elderly people. Constable Burton says romance scams and even identity fraud are also fairly common. He says scammers will often use similar tactics no matter the type of fraud they are trying to scam you with.
"Scammers will use pressure, fear, urgency and emotion to manipulate their victims. My advice is if you're questioning any conversation or interaction online at all, please hang up or stop all communication, take a step back, and seek an outside opinion," he said.
If you feel you are being targeted by a potential scam, Constable Burton notes that there are some tips to consider when faced with these fraud attempts.
"Never let anyone pressure you into acting immediately. Take your time, slow down, you are in control of your information, they only know what you give them. Do not provide any personal information to anyone you do not know or trust and never send money to anybody you don't know," Constable Burton added.
If you're unsure about a call, email, or text you get, have a family member or friend look at it before acting, or go to your bank or local police department and get clarification there. That includes when you receive unsolicited messages that claim to be from government agencies, like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), or from law enforcement.
"They'll never send you a link to ask for your personal information. Again, scammers are trying to exploit this avenue and a lot of people are falling for it. So these tips are trying to safeguard people to prevent people from being victimized or even re-victimized," Constable Burton pointed out.
This call to action follows a recent grandparent scam in Arthur, in which two unknown suspects contacted a victim last month. The first posed as the victim's grandson, suggesting they had been arrested following a motor vehicle collision and were in police custody. The second suspect, who identified themselves as a lawyer, advised that $2,600 was required for bail. Fortunately, the victim became suspicious and contacted police before any money was exchanged.
Constable Burton says this a very common type of scam targeting seniors, and you should never send money without question no matter how serious the scammers sound on the phone. You can always hang up, and contact law enforcement to verify the caller's claims. Bail is never required that quickly.
Again, in situations like this, the OPP is advising people to:
Stop and verify before sending money. Contact the family member directly using a known phone number.
Speak to other relatives or friends before acting on urgent requests for money.
Be cautious of payment requests via e-transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash couriers.
Never give out personal or financial information to unexpected callers.
For more information on scams and frauds, the public is encouraged to read The Little Black Book of Scams, which can be found Online: The Little Black Book of Scams 2nd edition.
If you are the recipient of a fraudulent call, text, or email, or if you have been a victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
Constable Burton adds that if you have been the victim of a scam or fraud, do not be embarrassed, as it happens extremely frequently. Law enforcement want to help where they can, and reporting the fraud can potentially help others avoid being scammed.
