Scammers remained hard at work in South Bruce in December.
The South Bruce Ontario Provincial Police received five reports of successful scams in December 2023. Between December 11, 2023, and December 29, 2023, the South Bruce OPP received five reports of fraud with losses totaling nearly $500,000.
Crypto scams added up to big losses, with $140,000 USD lost during Crypto exchange through a fraudulent site, while $338,000 was invested through a fraudulent online broker.
Another victim lost $97 USD after making online purchases through a fraudulent website. There were also two incidents of a $3,000 E-transfer made to help a "grandchild" in trouble.
"Tech-savvy scammers use technology to create very convincing schemes to trick you into sending them money," the South Bruce OPP warned. "They will commonly use the name of a real company to gain your trust so that you will send money or personal information to them."
OPP are asking people to remember that you can't win a contest that you didn't enter in the first place, and if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If you have a concern about your computer, you should take it to a reputable repair shop for service, and never provide remote access to a "tech" that calls you out of the blue. Gift cards are a red flag, and always verify any unsolicited contact.
Fraud is a multi-million-dollar enterprise that will only end when they stop making money. Anyone interested in more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1 888 495 8501 or check online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/.
The South Bruce OPP is requesting anyone with information to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at www.cstip.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.
