NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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The South Simcoe Police Service is warning the public to beware of online scams circulating in our communities.
The following are recent fraud reports where in some incidents, residents lost significant amounts of money:
- Fake RCMP officer called to demand payment for victim to obtain a new social insurance number and clear the victim's name of criminal charges.
- Bogus job opportunity on Facebook where company sent the victim fake cheques to buy Apple gift cards.
- Concert tickets advertised on Facebook but "seller" failed to send tickets and stopped communication after buyer sent e-transfer.
- Two residents answered ads for crypto currency investments.
Police are providing the following tips to help reduce your risk of falling victim to a scam:
- Research sellers and their online profile. Do an online search to see if anyone has already reported the fraudulent seller
- If possible, avoid paying in advance. Only pay for an item once it is received in person or you have seen it in a video call
- Be wary of unsolicited job offers and always research job ads
- Any request to purchase gift cards — for any reason — is a red flag and the source of all such requests should be verifiedDo your research and verify information
- If the caller claims to be a law enforcement official, hang up and call your local police directly, using a phone number from a reputable source — not one provided by the suspected fraudster
- Don’t give out personal information
- Beware of upfront fees
- Don’t be pressured into immediate action
- Consider having a separate, low amount credit card for online purchases
- Be wary of promises to get rich quick
Police are reminding residents to be vigilant, especially with Black Friday next week and holiday shopping fast approaching. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam. Trust your instincts.
Always report fraud and fraud attempts to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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