A southern Bruce County resident is out almost $5,000 after getting conned by an "emergency scam" over the past week.
Local police say the crime comes during Fraud Prevention Month and resulted in the con artist collecting $4,800. Overall, South Bruce OPP say $95,000 have been lost year-to-date to scammers.
They recommend that if someone calls to say a family member has been in an accident and needs money, that you verify with other family members first.
Other tips from the South Bruce OPP to help protect yourself from a con artist include:
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- If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
- Remember that you can't win a contest that you didn't enter in the first place.
- If you have a concern about your computer, take it to a reputable repair shop for service. Do not provide remote access to a "tech" that calls you out of the blue.
- Gift cards are a red flag. If someone contacts you and directs you to buy gift cards, you need to hang up the phone.
- Your best defence is to verify any unsolicited contact. Unsolicited means that you didn't ask for it.
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.
