A person in St. Marys convinced they won millions of dollars and a new luxury car from Publisher’s Clearing House reportedly lost $73,000 in the region’s latest scam, police say.
The fraud was reported to Stratford police by a member of the victim’s family, Const. Darren Fischer, the force’s media relations officer, said Thursday.
The victim received a phone call in January from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, the US-based marketing company known for using sweepstakes to sell magazines and other merchandise, police say.
Several people describing themselves as Publisher’s Clearing House employees asked the person for money to cover taxes on a $5 million cash prize and a Mercedes the victim supposedly won in a random draw, police said.
The victim sent about 25 e-transfers to the scammers, police said.
“Please be aware of these types of scams and learn how to protect yourself,” Fischer said. “You will never be asked to pay money in advance of receiving a prize. Don’t let fraudsters pressure you to make a decision. Take your time by hanging up the phone and doing some research on what is being offered. Most importantly, share this information with others.”
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center reported $530 million in victim losses last year. About 4,000 fraud victims reached out for help in January, reporting losses of about $43.6 million, according to the federal agency’s website.
One of the goals of the campaign is to encourage victims to report scammers to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Only five to 10 per cent of victims follow through with a report to law enforcement.
“Fraud continues to devastate lives in Ontario and across this country, and the number of frauds being reported is on the rise,” said Det. Supt. Dominic Chong, the director of the OPP’s financial crime services. “One of the best ways to combat fraudsters is to be armed with knowledge, information and awareness. I encourage everyone to learn the information and tips being made available to protect yourself, and to share these with your loved ones to help protect them.”
The most common frauds reported by Canadians in 2022
- Investment fraud – $308 million, $136 million in Ontario
- Romance frauds – $59 million, $20 million in Ontario
- Spear phishing – $58 million, $21.1 million in Ontario
- Service scams – $20.5 million, $8.1 million in Ontario
- Extortion frauds – $19 million, $4.8 million in Ontario
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Center