(RENFREW, ON) – The Renfrew Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is warning the public of an old scam making the rounds which can be quite frightening if you have never heard of it.
How the Scam Works:
You receive a scary text or email message. It appears to be from a hitman, saying that he/she’s been hired to kill you. In order to spare your life, he asks you to contact him immediately and pay several thousand dollars.
Of course, your life isn’t in danger. It’s really a fraudster trying to scare you into handing over money. This “hitman” scam has been around for a while, but it’s making the rounds once again.
What to Do If You Receive the Message:
Report it: Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone or online to report all frauds, even if you recognize the scam and were not defrauded. 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca
Do Not Respond to It: Don’t engage the scammer in conversation, that just confirms they have an active email address or phone number.
Protect yourself. Go to www.antifraudcentre.ca for information on active and popular scams and learn to recognize them and don’t be victimized.