Lambton OPP officials allege: Members of Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding area residents to be diligent while conducting transactions especially online or over the phone.
Recently an individual was contacted by suspects posing as RCMP officers demanding bail money for the victim’s grandson who was allegedly arrested for drug offences.
The victim initially sent $10,000 and was contacted again, three days later, where they sent another $15,000 via currier.
Suspects seem to be targeting the elderly and are typically utilizing an emergency-based scenario of family members in distress needing funds.
Unfortunately, there are many who make a living from preying on honest and compassionate individuals.
Don’t fall victim to their scams, be leery you notice any of the following:
– Urgency: The scammer always makes the request sound very urgent, which may cause the victim to not verify the story.
– Fear: The scammer plays on the victim’s emotions by generating a sense of fear. For instance they may say, “I am scared and I need help from you.” Verify the identity of the person by asking a question they would not know the answer to.
– Secrecy: The scammer pleads with the victim not to tell anyone about the situation, such as, “Please don’t tell Dad or Mom, they would be so mad.” Regardless of the emergency, call another family member to confirm the story.
– Request for Money Transfer or Gift Card: Money is usually requested to be sent by a money transfer company to the criminals, but gift cards are now the more frequently used, easy-to-liquidate alternative to cash.
If you have information on any crime activity in the area, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or *OPP (677) on your mobile phone.
Your call could make our communities safer for all.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or submit a tip online at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
