The Peterborough Police Service is warning residents after learning of a scam involving people pretending to be government officials and law enforcement.
Earlier this week, officers with the Fraud Unit learned of a scam in which a Peterborough resident lost over $43,000. The scam started off with a phone call from someone claiming to be a government official with the High Commission of India in Canada and that the victim was a suspect in a money-laundering investigation in India. The victim was told not to tell anyone, or they would be charged. As the scam continued, the victim was asked to answer a phone call everyday at 8 a.m. for a month and engage in several other communications in which the person on the other end of the phone appeared to be wearing a police uniform. The victim was eventually convinced to send money through cryptocurrency in order to clear their name.
Earlier this year, another resident was scammed out of over $15,000 after being contacted in a similar manner and being told they were a suspect in a money-laundering investigation. In this case the victim was asked to purchase gift cards.
Officers with the Fraud Unit remind residents that frauds and scams are constant and that they often encourage secrecy not to tell anyone, urgency to act, and ask for money to avoid charges or jail time.
Government and law enforcement agencies do not accept cryptocurrencies and do not ask for money.
Tips to stay scam safe:
- Talk to trusted individuals about what is going on
- Do your own research
- Don’t give in to urgency
- Don’t give any money
- Be extra cautious
- Think it might be a scam? Report it to your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Learn more about how to be scam safe: www.peterboroughpolice.com/fraud
