FRAUDS AND SCAMS
This is a 2-part series on Frauds and Scams.
The Wellington County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) recognizes that its’ not always easy to spot a scam and that new ones are invented on a daily basis. If you suspect that you may be a target of fraud, or if you have already sent money to a suspected fraudster, don’t be embarrassed, you’re not alone. The OPP, along with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre wish to provide you with Crime Reduction tips to reduce the risk.
How to recognize a Scam?
If it sounds too good to be true
You’ve won a big prize in a contest that you don’t recall entering. You’re offered an once-in-a-lifetime investment that offers a huge return. You’re told that you can buy into a lottery ticket pool that cannot lose.
You must pay or you can’t play
“You’re a winner!†but you must agree to send money to the caller in order to pay for delivery, processing, taxes, duties or some other fee in order to receive your prize. Sometimes the caller will even send a courier to pick up your money.
You must give them your private financial information
The caller asks for all your confidential banking and/or credit card information. Honest businesses do not require these details unless you are using that specific method of payment.
Will that be cash?
Often criminal telemarketers ask you to send cash or a money order, rather than a cheque or credit card. Cash is untraceable and can’t be cancelled. Also, criminals also have difficulty in establishing themselves as merchants with legitimate credit card companies.
The caller is more excited than you are
The criminals want to get you excited about this “opportunity†so that you won’t be able to think clearly.
It’s the manager calling
The person calling claims to be a government official, tax officer, banking official, lawyer or some other person in authority. The person calls you by your first name and asks you a lot of personal or lifestyle questions. The stranger calling wants to become your best friend
Criminals love finding out if you’re lonely and willing to talk. Once they know that, they’ll try to convince you that they are your friend – after all, we don’t normally suspect our friends of being criminals.
It’s a limited opportunity and you’re going to miss out
If you are pressured to make a big purchase decision immediately, it’s probably not a legitimate deal. Real businesses or charities will give you a chance to check them out or think about it.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Remember, legitimate telemarketers have nothing to hide
However, criminals will say anything to part you from your hard-earned money.
Be cautious.
You have the right to check out any caller by requesting written information, a call back number, references and time to think over the offer.
Legitimate business people will be happy to provide you with that information. After all, they want the bad guys” out of business too. Always be careful about providing confidential personal information
