(SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY, ON) – The South Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) continues to receive fraud complaints from area residents. On October 24, 2012, the South Bruce OPP received a copy of a letter, received locally, from a Toronto law firm with a cheque enclosed for $3,999.97. The recipient was instructed to cash the cheque and wire a portion of the funds through Western Union. Modern scams can look very real, so always ensure that you are dealing with a reputable business, not a con artist.
Technology provides a savvy user with a smorgasbord of information on a potential target. Names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers, and even names of relatives are available online. A savvy scammer can reproduce and print convincing logos of a reputable business, including a registered charity. Always verify the legitimacy of any unsolicited document that you receive whether it’s by fax, mail or email, even when it bears the name of a charity at the top. 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 card0020number 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. You work hard for your money, so work hard to protect it from 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. Fraud is a billion dollar enterprise that will only stop when the scammers stop making money.
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.
The South Bruce OPP is requesting anyone with information that can assist police to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or send a web-tip to crimestop-gb.org, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.