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The James Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police has issued an advisory urging members of the public to be aware of various schemes being used to defraud the public and businesses.
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“If you receive any unsolicited communication by any means asking for money to be given or that you won money, be cautious and suspicious,” the OPP stated in a release.
The public is being reminded to:
Never give out any personal, credit or banking information to anyone over the phone, by letter, email, fax or any other means of communication; and never provide anyone your Social Insurance Number (SIN) over the phone.
“Often, the victims are presented with a situation that is either very serious and/or needs immediate attention and they feel pressured to provide the information requested on the spot,” police stated. “The scammer may also know limited information about you, such as name, address, and possibly a few numbers of a credit card. They use this information as a way to convince you they are who they say they are. When in reality, they are trying to get you to provide additional personal information. These are tactics frequently used in the scams.
The OPP provided a few current examples:
• $2.5 million Winner Scam – The scammers call you to advise that you have won $2.5 million but to get your prize, you have to purchase a $500 Shoppers Drug Mart or Canadian Tire gift card. The scammers are claiming that they are from…
