Ontario Provincial Police are warning citizens of a new scam trend, where scammers will pose as police officers to trick victims into handing over large sums of money.
Recently, fraudsters have contacted victims by phone while claiming to be members of the OPP. In each case, the suspect used fake names, titles, and badge information to gain credibility. The victims were then instructed to withdraw large sums of money for the fraudster, and either hand over cash or send it through cryptocurrency platforms. Some victims lost between $6,000 and $13,000 due to the scam.
Police confirm that the names and ranks provided by the scammers do not correspond with any OPP members.
OPP are reminding the public that officers will never request money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or financial transfers over the phone, and will never demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or pressure you to act urgently.
People who receive a call from someone claiming to be from the OPP and are unsure, are encouraged to call the non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 to confirm whether an actual officer has attempted to contact them, or report suspected frauds.
