(THAMES CENTRE, ON) – On April 17, 2016, at approximately 7:40 p.m., the Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a fraud.
A lone male entered a grocery store in Thames Centre, Ontario, wearing medical scrubs, and purchased two $500 gift cards, stating they were for a fundraiser for a charity. He paid for the cards with a cancer foundation cheque in the amount of $1000.
It was subsequently determined that the cheque was fraudulent, and police were contacted.
This type of fraud has been occurring in many areas in Southern Ontario.
The Middlesex County OPP cautions businesses to be aware of this “charity” scam, and reminds owners to immediately report any suspected fraud incidents to their police agency of jurisdiction.
For more information on frauds, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) website: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
CAFC is jointly managed by the RCMP, Competition Bureau, and the OPP. Day-to-day operations are led by the RCMP.
The CAFC is Canada’s central repository for data, intelligence and resource material as it relates to fraud. The CAFC commits to providing timely, accurate and useful information to assist citizens, businesses, law enforcement and governments in Canada and around the world. The CAFC’s primary goals are prevention through education and awareness, disruption of criminal activities, dissemination of intelligence, support to law enforcement and strengthening partnerships between the private and public sectors with the aim of maintaining Canada’s strong economic integrity.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact their local police. The OPP can be reached anytime, anywhere in the Province of Ontario, at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.