MAPLETON – Police are yet again warning residents to be wary of scams after a Mapleton senior was defrauded of a quarter of a million dollars over the course of a year.
Wellington County OPP officials say police were called about the “online phishing scam” on March 13.
“It was reported that since February 2024, the elderly victim had sent approximately $250,000 to a person who they had met online,” police stated in a March 17 press release.
“Over the course of several months, the victim was instructed to attend local businesses to purchase gift cards. The victim would then provide the scammer with numbers on the cards.
“The victim then suspected they were being subject to fraudulent activity and reported the incident to police.”
Anyone with information can contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at www.csgw.tips. Tip providers may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.
‘Stay alert, educated’
OPP officials are encouraging residents to “stay alert and educated” to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
They say anyone who receives “an unsolicited phone call or message asking for personal information (name, birthday, address, phone number, bank information, SIN number) or payment via gift cards for a product” should hang up the phone and block the phone number.
Police provided the following warning signs to help spot fraud when receiving unsolicited messages:
- emails, text messages or phone calls at odd times of the night;
- creation of a false sense of urgency;
- spelling errors;
- lack of punctuation or capitals in sentences;
- automated messages;
- random links or attachments; and
- generic business or company name.
Scam victims should call police and also report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visiting antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
For more information on scams and frauds, visit competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html.
