‘Scammers target vulnerable people who may be lonely and gain trust by creating a fictitious relationship’
OPP are again raising the alarm about many schemes being used to defraud the public and businesses.
Here are just a few current examples:
- Romance Scam – scammers target vulnerable people who may be lonely and gain trust by creating a fictitious relationship. After time, they request money be sent to them for various reasons; sickness in the family and can’t afford medication, surgery, airline ticket so you can finally meet, housing/rent money, etc. That person you are communicating with is NOT who they say they are.
- Bank Account Scam – Text messages and/or emails from financial institutions asking you to click on a link to verify your account information. DO NOT click on the link.
- VIN Number Scam – scammers will send you a reply to a motorized vehicle you are selling. This has been popular on Kijiji. They want to make sure there are no liens on the vehicle before purchasing. So, a link is sent to input the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) into a website they provide. DO NOT click on the link or input your VIN into the website. That VIN number provides the scammer your personal information – name, date of birth, address, etc.
- Overpayment Scam – The scammer agrees to purchase something you are selling on-line. They send you a bank draft or cheque for more than your asking price. They ask you to deposit the draft or cheque and pay…
