HALDIMAND—The Haldimand detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a recent investment fraud in Haldimand County. A resident has lost over $45,000 to the scam.
The investigation determined that the fraudster convinced the individual to send funds multiple times for an ‘investment’ over a two-month period, after connecting through a popular social media platform.
If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) either by calling 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS) at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/, even if a financial loss did not occur.
It is estimated that only 5-10% of victims report scams and frauds to the CAFC or law enforcement.
How can you protect yourself?
- Don’t give out your personal information (name, address, date of birth, SIN, or banking credentials).
- Don’t invest your money in platforms provided by people you don’t know.
- Protect your online accounts.
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met.
- Don’t respond to text messages from phone numbers you do not recognize.
