Ontario Provincial Police are warning residents about a growing scam where fraudsters impersonate officers and pressure victims to hand over money.
OPP say the scam is similar to past bank investigator frauds, but now includes callers claiming to be OPP officers, sometimes using real officer names.
Bill Dickson with the OPP says the goal is to create panic.
Victims are often told to withdraw cash or deposit money into cryptocurrency machines. Dickson says those demands are a major red flag.
He adds scammers rely on urgency and fear to stop people from thinking clearly.
The OPP urges residents to hang up and verify calls independently, whether it’s to police or your bank and be sure to use numbers from your bank statements and not a number provided by the suspected fraudster. You can reach the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122. The back of your bank card should also have a telephone number you can reliably use to connect with the institutions fraud centre.
More information is also available through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
(Written by: Emily Chatwood)
