Fraud Prevention Month
On-line scams are being reported to the Grenville County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) every day. The scam artists can contact you by text messages, social media sites, e-mail or by phone. Be wary of any message that suggests that you are being awarded money, that you owe money, that you have an inheritance or that you have an account that has been compromised.
You can protect yourself! Never give out personal information over the phone or Internet.
Victims report being told the following:
‘You have won the lottery!’ If it sounds too good to be true it probably is; legitimate lottery administrators never charge fees to deliver your prize.
“You have overpaid!” Watch out for the scammer requesting you wire any money to them so they can send you a cheque back.
“Your SIN card is corrupted, send money to a special account!’ That money will go into the Scammers account and will not be seen again.
‘I’m with the Canadian Revenue Service and you owe money!’ CRA will never ask for personal information over the phone or request payment in Amazon or ITUNES gift cards.
If you do not know if you are being scammed, get their information, tell them you will call back and then contact your local police or visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website at: www.antifraudcenter.ca.
