Police are again warning residents about the “lottery scam,” after a senior here was defrauded of $12,000.
If not for the actions of local bank employees, that amount could have almost tripled, police say.
On March 15, Wellington County OPP officers were called to the RBC Royal Bank in Drayton for a potential fraud. Employees at the bank “became suspicious when a senior citizen came into the bank attempting to transfer around $20,000 to pay a tax on a winning lottery prize,” stated an OPP press release.
Police say the senior had already transferred over $12,000 to the fraudster.
“The victim was told that a prize of $3.5 million and an exotic car were won,” police stated.
“Months of grooming convinced the victim that it was necessary to send money to avoid being defrauded.”
The OPP is urging anyone suspicious of requests for up-front payments on winnings or rewards to call local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1888-495-8501 or visit www.antifraudcentre.ca.
Anyone with information regarding the above incident should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
