Police issue warning after seniors scammed
Ontario Provincial Police are asking residents to chat about fraud and recognize seniors are often targeted after two Essex County residents were scammed out of thousands of dollars.
In September, police learned an Essex resident had been contacted through social media and directed to purchase Google Play cards as a method of transferring funds to a scammer. This took place over several months until the victim was directed to send $48,000, police said in a news release on Monday. Then, the victim's family became aware and police started an investigation.
The Essex County OPP major crimes unit continues to investigate in an attempt to identify the suspect or suspects responsible. Police have been able to secure the $48,000 and return it to the victim, however, there is still “a significant amount of money outstanding.”
More recently, police were made aware of another victim, this time from Lakeshore, who was contacted by phone by an unknown suspect claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. The person alleged the victim's social insurance number had been compromised and told the victim to convert money into Bitcoin to send to the caller. The suspect pretended to be a member of a police service and said another officer was involved.
The female victim attended three different banks and withdrew $12,000 in total.
Police are encouraging businesses, financial institutions, social services, retirement homes and long-term care facilities and family members to have an open conversation about fraud “and the fact that seniors are often targeted.”
To prevent fraud, keep your personal information confidential and safe, police said. Do not give out any information over the phone, internet or through email. Don't be pressured or bullied by someone on the phone into providing personal information.
Protect your PIN (personal identification number) and passwords, and beware of unusual transactions and offers that are too good to be true.
For more information and tips on how to prevent fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre website at antifraudcentre.ca.
Anyone with information regarding this or any other incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888310-1122, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or leave a message online at www. catchcrooks.com.