Scammer pretends to be a police officer, defrauding people of over $20,000 in an Ontario town
Published February 2, 2024 at 9:25 am
Two people lost thousands of dollars to a fraudster pretending to be a police officer in an Ontario town.
The two separate incidents happened in the Town of Tecumseh, near Windsor, in late January, the OPP said in a press release today (Feb. 2).
In the first case, a Tecumseh resident said they were in contact with a person who claimed to be a police officer. The scammer asked for money to help the victim’s family member in jail, the OPP said.
The victim handed over $13,000 to the scammer, police said.
The incident was reported on Jan. 25.
In the second incident, reported on Jan. 31, a Tecumseh resident is believed to have been in contact with the same scammer, police said.
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This person lost $8,000.
In both incidents, it appears the same person went to victim’s homes to collect the money.
A person was captured on security camera.
Investigators are asking anyone who can identify the individual pictured in the photo, to contact Tecumseh OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying this person caught on security camera.
This type of scam, often referred to as the “grandparents scam” and typically 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.
The fabricated incidents often include car accidents, legal issues resulting in incarceration, or difficulties returning from a foreign location.
To help combat these scams, the OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre have developed “The Little Black Book of Scams“.
More information can also be found at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visit https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/.
Anyone with information regarding this or any other incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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