Norfolk County OPP is reminding residents to be vigilant after a Delhi resident lost close to $6,000 to an “emergency” scam fraudster.
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Officers were dispatched to a Western Avenue residence in Delhi on Jan. 1 to investigate a fraud. Upon arrival, police learned the victim had been involved in a conversation on WhatsApp with someone purporting to be the victim’s daughter.
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WhatsApp is a popular messaging application.
The fraudster sought financial assistance from the victim and received multiple e-transfers totaling more than $5,900, Norfolk OPP said.
“Grandparents and parents are frequently the focus of these scammers,” Const. Andrew Gamble of the Norfolk OPP said in a statement. “A typical scenario involves a grandparent or parent receiving a call or a message from an individual claiming to be their grandchild or child, explaining they are in urgent trouble and require immediate financial assistance.”
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Gamble said the fabricated scenarios usually involve vehicle collisions, legal issues resulting in incarceration, or difficulties returning from a foreign location.
To protect people and combat the problem, the OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center have developed a fraud prevention handout, urging community members to share it with others for increased awareness.
Staying educated is key in preventing fraud, Gamble said.
To view “”The Little Black Book of Scams” online visit https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/competition-bureau-canada/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/publications /little-black-book-scams.
Those who receive a fraudulent call, text, or email, or have fallen victim to fraud are urged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-8501 or visit https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude .That/.
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