From: OPP West Region Twitter
South Bruce OPP is advising people to be on the lookout for scams after someone lost $7,100.
Police say on Aug. 24, officers received a report of a computer fraud in the Municipality of South Bruce.
An investigation found someone had received a notification their computer was not operating property, and ended up provided their personal banking information.
Police say 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 you will send money or personal information to them.
Police recommend the following tips to protect yourself against scams:
-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.
“Fraud is a multi-million-dollar enterprise that will only end when they stop making money,” says South Bruce OPP.
More information on fraud and scams can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website here, or by calling 1-888-495-8501.