The Norfolk OPP say they continue to receive calls about emergency scams in the area swindling people out of thousands of dollars.
On New Year’s Day, a resident in Delhi called police about a scam where someone contacted them via WhatsApp claiming to be their daughter and that they needed immediate financial assistance – over $5900 was sent before the victim realized the person on the other side of the messages was not their daughter.
Grandparents and parents are frequently the focus of these scammers. A typical scenario involves a grandparent or parent receiving a call or a message from an individual claiming to be their grandchild or child, explaining they are in urgent trouble and require immediate financial assistance. The fabricated incidents often include car accidents, legal issues resulting in incarceration, or difficulties returning from a foreign location.
To combat these scams, the OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre have developed a fraud prevention handout, urging community members to share it with others for increased awareness.
Staying educated is key in preventing fraud. Access “The Little Black Book of Scams” online at https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/competition-bureau-canada/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/publications/little-black-book-scams.
If you encounter a fraudulent call, text, or email, or if you’ve fallen victim to fraud, report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/.
Written by Matt LeBlanc