Web posted on July 04, 2012
The Guelph Police Service Fraud Unit is once again reaching out to the citizens of Guelph in an attempt to provide education regarding fraud related activity within our city.
There are currently three very different fraud scams that we are aware of and each may have several variations to it.
Grandparent or Emergency Fraud Scam
The senior receives a phone call at their residence and the individual on the phone tells them it is their son,daughter, grandson, granddaughter or other relative calling. The suspect is able to get the unsuspecting senior to provide them with information regarding the relative that they are claiming to be.
The suspect then indicates that they are in some sort of trouble and need money right away. The suspect tells the senior that they should keep things quiet and avoid alarming anyone. The suspect tries to convince the senior to attend a post office or money transfer location so that they can wire transfer money immediately.
The Mystery Shopper
The victim receives an unsolicited letter in the mail requesting that they be a Mystery Shopper. They are asked to deposit a large cheque into their account and then forward the funds via a money transfer.
The victim must contact the solicitor and provide the reference number so the money can be picked up through the Money Transfer. The Solicitor will request that you keep the transaction a secret as the victim has to evaluate the employee at the Money Transfer business. The cheque is fraudulent and the victim will be held responsible for the money withdrawn from the account.
Facsimile Scam
The suspect portrays themselves as being hearing impaired. They contact a restaurant and indicate that they would like to place a very large order for a special occasion and requests that they communicate via email. The suspect advises that the order will be picked up by a private carrier.
The suspect provides a credit card number
that is either invalid or a stolen credit card (unauthorized unreported stolen) and then requests that the restaurant front the money so that the private carrier be paid. The suspect requests that the funds for the private carrier be sent via wire transfer.
Things to Remember:
- NEVER WIRE TRANSFER MONEY TO STRANGERS,
- IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE – IT PROBABLY IS,
- DON’T TRUST UNSOLICITED LETTERS, EMAILS, FAXES OR PHONE CALLS SEEKING ASSISTANCE INVOLVING MONEY – ARE YOU REALLY SURE WHO IS ON THE OTHER END?,
- TALK TO OTHERS FOR ADVICE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION,
- CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TALK TO A FRAUD INVESTIGATOR IF YOU HAVE LOST MONEY,
- IF YOU FEEL PRESSURED, UNCOMFORTABLE OR SUSPICIOUS OF THE SITUATION, STEP BACK AND DO YOUR RESEARCH – FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS!
FRAUD. Recognize it, Report it, Stop it.
Please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca for more information and tips to protect yourself!.
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