Police warn of online fraud

REGIONAL — On March 3, a local fraud victim contacted the Ontario Provincial Police, Essex Detachment, regarding a $1600 fraud that had taken place two days prior.

The victim received an email to confirm a purchase on her account. She knew that she had not made a purchase so she called the customer service number provided in the email to discuss the error.

Over the course of the conversation the victim was asked for credit card and banking information. She was directed to download apps on her phone and eventually to a store to purchase gift cards and reveal the personal identification number (PIN) provided on the back.

An alert clerk prevented any further transactions stopping the victim from any further loss.

Fraud is a multi-million dollar enterprise that will only end when the scammers stop making money. Your best defence is to verify any unsolicited contact. Unsolicited means that you didn’t ask for it.

While Fraud Prevention Month provides an opportunity to spread awareness, it’s important to be “scam aware” all year long. You work hard for your money, so work hard to protect it.

Anyone interested in more information on fraud can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1 888 495 8501 or check online at http://www.antifraudcentre.ca/.

The Competition Bureau of Canada’s “Little Black Book of Scams” can be found here: https:// www.competitionbureau. gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04333.html.

Anyone with information regarding this or any other incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310- 1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.catchcrooks.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.