Yet another set of fraud prevention tips are coming from Prince Edward OPP after a 75-year-old county woman sold an old computer online.
She had advertised the computer for $650 and got an offer back from someone in Miami, Florida, offering to pay $800 for the computer, if she paid the shipping costs.
The woman agreed and sent the package on Wednedsay afternoon via Canada post, but as of this morning, never recieved her money.
She contacted OPP, Canada Post and Kijiji, with the investigation continuing.
Police say “scammers are sneaky and sly” and nobody is immune from their tricks.
Those fraud prevention tips include:
- You work hard for your money. You want to spend it on things that matter to you – whether it’s your children’s education, an exciting trip or new smartphone.
- Fraudsters are REAL. They are out there every day looking for victims. They will target you online, over the phone, by mail and in person.
- You are a target. Thousands of Canadians lose millions of dollars to fraudsters every year. The impact on fraud on families and businesses can be devastating.
- Learn to fight fraud. The Competition Bureau of Canada has released a booklet called “The Little Book of Scams” and it outlines the 12 most common scams currently targeting Canadians. It is filled with tips and tricks on how to protect yourself and what to do if you get scammed.
- Knowledge is Power. Protect yourself by seeking out more information. In addition to the booklet, you can consult numerous websites for more information.
- REPORT IT! Anyone can be targeted, from teenagers, to grandparents, to senior corporate officers. The best thing you can do is to report the fraud, whatever the amount, to the appropriate authorities. Don’t be embarrassed as it will help others from falling for it.
