South Bruce OPP are asking residents to continue to watch out for cons and scams as $4,800 was recently sent to a con artist.
Police say during Fraud Prevention Month, OPP are advising caution as nearly $95,000 has been sent to scammers by residents of Southern Bruce County year-to-date,
This past week, OPP say they received a report of a successful scam in Southern Bruce County, in what is commonly known as the “grandparent scam” or “emergency scam.” This is when a scammer call to tell the victim their grandchild has been in a motor vehicle collision and needs money.
Police say cons and scams are attempted daily through online platforms, by phone, by letter mail, or by fax, and the multi-million-dollar enterprise will only end when con artists stop making money.
Police advise before you ever consider making a payment, call your son or daughter to verify your grandchild is actually involved.
Police say while scammers will change tactics and come up with new schemes, there are common tools in a con artists toolbox. These include:
-Spoofing scams, when calls appear to be from a friend, legitimate company or branch of government. To avoid the scam, end the call and connect with the real person, company or branch of government.
-Act now scams, when the scammer doesn’t want you to consider the offer suspicious. To avoid the scam, verify the contact before you go any further.
-Emotional manipulation scams, when con artists will play on your emotions to get your money. These can vary from romance, emergency, grandparent, and charity. To avoid the scam, be suspicious when they play with your emotions and check the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as it maybe on its list of scams.
-Pop-up scams, when boxes appear on your computer screen saying your have won a prize or your device is infected, and a number will be provided for you to call. To avoid the scam, install anti-virus software, clear your cache, and block cookies when possible, and do not use public Wi-Fi, particularly when online banking.
Police add if a situation sound too good to be true, it likely is, and you cannot win a contest you did not enter in the first place. Also, if you have a concern about your computer, take it to a reputable repair shop for service and do not give remote access to a tech who calls you at of the blue. Police also say gift cards are a red flag, if someone contacts your and directs you to buy gift cards, your need to hang up the phone. Keep in mind your best defence is to verify any unsolicited contact.
Police say anyone interested in more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit its website here.