Prince Edward County OPP continue to remind individuals to be aware of ongoing frauds and scams. Take the time to conduct research, ask questions and take a minute before sending gift cards or money.
On Friday October 15, 2021 a report was received from an individual reporting being victimized by the emergency scam. The victim received a call advising their daughter had been involved in a serious collision, involving a young child, while impaired by alcohol. The victim was advised that to arrange the release of their daughter, $6000 needed to be sent immediately to facilitate the court process. The victim then spoke to someone on the phone who was crying, claiming to be their daughter. The daughter requested this be kept secret as to avoid further trouble. The victim transferred the money. Subsequently, the victim contacted their daughter and confirmed she had not been involved in any such occurrence.
As a reminder, here are some red flags to identify frauds and scams:
- Oftentimes, there will be a request not to tell anyone, to keep it a secret to avoid further trouble
- Request for gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Urgent request for action or information
- Request for banking information
- Unsolicited attempts at selling products or services
Remember: fraudsters are sneaky and sly.
Knowledge is Power!
