Northern Ont. police warn public that scam attempts are spiking
![Online fraud There has been a surge in online fraud attempts in the Elliot Lake area, Ontario Provincial Police said Thursday. (File)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/2/29/online-fraud-1-6789637-1709238513921.jpg)
There has been a surge in online fraud attempts in the Elliot Lake area, Ontario Provincial Police said Thursday.
The general rule is to never click on links sent by someone you don’t know, particularly when immediate action is being demanded.
“There has been a significant increase in unwanted texts and phone calls from scammers,” the OPP said in a news release.
“A text example may read something along the lines of, ‘Fraud Alert! Unauthorized transactions on your credit card. Click here to view the details.’ Do NOT ever click on a link that is provided!”
Phone call scams alert you to phony credit card charges and try to get you to connect with an operator.
A phone call scam will start out with an automated recording, stating that "there have been unauthorized charges on your credit card for two specified amounts. Press 1 if you authorized these, press 2 if you did not and speak to an agent."
No matter what you press, your call will be transferred to a scammer, police said.
“Any legitimate agency will never request a payment by pre-paid gift cards such as Google Play, iTunes, Vanilla, etc.,” police said.
“Also, they will never ask you to verify credit card numbers over the phone. And, only scammers will ask you to purchase large denomination gift cards as form of payment.”
In essence, any unsolicited request for money is almost certainly a scam. Anyone who asks for credit card or other personal information like your social insurance number is likely setting you up for identity fraud.
“Often, the victims are presented with a situation that is either very serious and/or needs immediate attention and they feel pressured to provide the information requested on the spot,” police said.
“This is a tactic frequently used in the scams.”
OPP community safety officer Const. Phil Young said in the release that being aware of the tactics scammers use is key in preventing fraud.
“The better educated the public (is), the less chance they have to fall victim to these ruthless scammers,” Young said.
“Don't keep it a secret -- talk to a friend, family member, neighbour, or police before making any decisions to send money to people you don't know."
o Download our app to get local alerts on your device
o Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
If you believe that someone is posing as a fraudster on the phone, just hang up.
Also, you can report it through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. If you are a victim of fraud or scam, contact your local police agency.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6944536.1719570373!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Debate takeaways: Trump confident, even when wrong, Biden halting, even with facts on his side
Thursday’s U.S. presidential debate was a re-run that featured two candidates with a combined age of 159, but it went especially poorly for one of them, President Joe Biden.
NEW Car thieves tried accessing Ontario transportation ministry database
One of Canada's largest police forces has knowledge of car thieves attempting to breach Ontario's Ministry of Transportation database, CTV News has learned.
What is going on with immigration in Canada? Here's what the data shows
Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis.
Economy grew 0.3% in April, Statistics Canada reports
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.3 per cent in April, helped by strength in several industries including wholesale trade, mining and oil and gas extraction and manufacturing.
Liberal caucus staying quiet after major byelection defeat that rattled party
Liberal campaign co-chair Terry Duguid insisted Thursday that his caucus is united behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even as the majority of elected Liberals remain silent on the prime minister's political future.
Buying a car? Why you may have to pay more at some dealers if you use cash
It used to be cash was king and that you could get a better deal if you paid for a car in full, but now many dealers want you to finance your purchase so they can make more money.
Princess Anne leaves hospital after treatment for concussion
Princess Anne has left the hospital and returned to her southwestern England estate after an accident thought to involve a horse left her with a concussion.
FACT FOCUS: Here's a look at some of the false claims made during Biden and Trump's first debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump traded barbs and a variety of false and misleading information as they faced off in their first debate of the 2024 election.
Analysis of the CNN Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump
U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump went head-to-head in the first of two planned presidential debates.