NANTICOKE—Haldimand OPP is reminding the public to be vigilant and always verify information after a resident fell victim to an emergency scam in Nanticoke.
On Friday, February 26, 2021, the victim was contacted by an unknown person claiming to be a lawyer. The unknown person told the victim that their grandson had been involved in a collision and had been charged with impaired driving.
The unknown person then told the victim that they would require $3,000 in order to pay liability fees and to avoid their grandson being held in custody over the weekend.
Feeling their grandson was in serious trouble and needing help, the victim provided the unknown person with credit card information to pay the fees requested.
It wasn’t until the victim had contacted another member of the family to check on the condition of their grandson did they realize they were scammed.
When scammers use an “emergency” tactic, they play on the victim’s emotions by generating a sense of fear. It is imperative to verify any unsolicited contact before you respond and provide any information.
Keep your guard up when you receive a surprise call from anyone soliciting funds and indicating that a loved one is in jail or has been involved in a serious incident. Contact your immediate family and inquire if anyone is in need of assistance. Do not forward any funds without speaking to family members first.
The OPP encourages anyone with elderly family members to have discussions with them about the different types of frauds and tactics and the preventative practices they can use every day.
March is fraud prevention month and the OPP encourages the public to stay educated and informed to reduce the risk of being a victim of fraud. Knowledge is power.
The Little Black Book of Scams, can be found online at
competitionbureau.gc.ca/
eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html
If you are the recipient of a fraudulent call, text or email, or if you’ve been a victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit
antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
