SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY – The South Bruce OPP is sending out a fraud warning after a significant amount of money has been lost by residents of Southern Bruce County.
These scams, commonly known as the “Bitcoin” scam and the “Romance” scam, have seen local residents conned out of more than $500,000 in the past six weeks.
The South Bruce OPP is offering some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud:
– Never share personal information when chatting online. This includes emails, texts, and social media sites.
– Question unsolicited “Crypto stock trading” offers. Thoroughly research online trading and the company/broker before you consider any investment.
– Ask yourself, “Would someone I have never met declare their love after a few online chats?” Think of a request for money as a red flag.
Police urge residents to remember that tech-savvy scammers can create very convincing scams.
“They won’t hesitate to use the name of a legitimate company to gain your trust and trick you into paying them,” state police.
Cyber safety tips are available at: https://www.getcybersafe.ca.
Anyone interested in more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1 888 495 8501 or check online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/.
