Police are investigating following a recent fraud in Huron East.
Huron County OPP were contacted on September 5 by a victim who claimed they lost $17,500 in an internet investment scam in late August 2023.
The victim explained to police that they were referred to a cryptocurrency investment website by a friend. The victim initially invested $7,500 and was promised certain profits on their investment. The victim then invested an additional $10,000.
The fraudsters froze the investment, which was paid to them via Shakepay, and the victim realized they had been scammed.
In 2022, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, fraud reports totalled a staggering $530 million in victim losses. This was nearly a 40 percent increase from the 2021, unprecedented $380 million in losses. It is estimated that only 5-10 percent of victims report scams and frauds to the CAFC or law enforcement.
How to protect yourself?
-Don't give out your personal information (name, address, DOB, SIN, banking credentials).
Don't accept friend requests from people you do not know.
-Don't invest your money in platforms provided by people you don't know.
-Be careful who you share images with. Suspects will often use explicit pictures to extort victims into sending more money.
-Protect your online accounts.
-Get more than one quote for home repair work and never feel pressured.
-Never send money to someone you haven't met.
-Don't respond to text messages from phone numbers you do not recognize.
-Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself.
If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur.