FORT FRANCES – NEWS – A phone scam is targeting people in the Fort Frances and Rainy-River district.
The Ontario Provincial Police report that “On August 28, 2019 members of the Rainy District Ontario Provincial Police were made aware of a phone scam which has affected multiple persons in the area. The scammers have phoned unsuspecting persons and claimed that they have won a sweepstake or prize of some sort usually many millions of dollars, vehicles, or a combination of both. They have asked the victims to send them a large amount of money to “free up” the winnings. Then they ask for payment through credit card, Bank Draft, personal cheque, money order, prepaid credit card, and gift cards. The scammers have asked for the money to be sent to addresses throughout Canada. Be aware that this is a scam and there are no winnings.
These fraudsters appear to have been targeting elderly persons, and because of this, the Rainy River District OPP would like to recommend that people speak with their elderly parents or grandparents and ensure they are not unwittingly sending money to these scammers. If someone you know is making large withdrawals of money please talk to them and ensure they are not victims of fraud.
If you have sent money to someone and you believe you are the victim of fraud please contact your local police service. This can be done in the Rainy River District by phoning 1 (888) 310-1122. If you have information regarding fraud and you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). You may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
It is recommended that everyone visit www.antifraudcentre.ca and learn more about what scams are happening now; how you can be protecting yourself against these scams; and what to do next if you believe you have been the victim of a scam.
