(SOUTH BRUCE COUNTY, ON) – March is fraud prevention month. The South Bruce OPP wants to take this opportunity to raise public awareness to help put a stop to a crime that costs Ontarians billions of dollars every year.
The internet provides fraudsters with a powerful tool to gather information about a potential target. Names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and even credit card numbers are available, to a savvy user, online. Modern scammers will actually contact you in the name of a legitimate company or charity in an effort to gain your trust. You should verify the charity is actively canvassing before handing over your donation.
This makes it even more important to recognize the unsolicited phone call, letter, email or visit at your front door for what it is. Unsolicited means that you didn’t ask for it. What are the odds that a wealthy benefactor has arbitrarily selected you for a free gift? Your bank knows your credit number and account number, they will never ask for it by phone. Be absolutely sure who you’re dealing with before you ever provide the 3 digit card security code located next to the signature line of your VISA card. It’s your money. You work hard for it, don’t hand it over to a con artist.
There is no magic to preventing fraud. If something sounds too good to be true or seems a little “weird†it probably is. Trust your instincts, not the stranger at your door. If you aren’t comfortable letting a stranger into your home, don’t. If someone won’t leave your home when you ask them to, call police and we will remove them for you.
Anyone wanting more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud centre at 1 888 495 8501 or online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca.
Anyone having information that can assist Police with investigations is asked to call South Bruce OPP at 519-396-3341 (Kincardine), 519-881-3130 (Walkerton) or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222 -TIPS (8477). OPP Dispatch – 1-888-310-1122