OPP officials allege: Petrolia resident scammed out of $6,000 in an emergency scam.
On March 16, 2025, Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report of an emergency scam that took place at an address on Joe Street in Petrolia.
The victim explained to police that on March 14, 2025, at approximately 1:30 p.m., they received a phone call from an individual, whom they believed was their son needing bail money after being involved in a motor vehicle collision. The victim was then directed to speak with a lawyer, said to be handling the case.
The victim was instructed to provide the money to an individual posing as a court employee, who visited their residence to collect the money that same afternoon.
The suspect is described as a female, 40 years-of-age, heavy build with brown hair.
The investigation is ongoing.
Be aware of some warning signs:
– Urgency: The requester 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 example, they may say, “I am scared and need help from you.”
– Secrecy: The scammer pleads with the victim not to tell anyone about the situation.
To avoid becoming a victim, police advise you to first check with another family member or trusted friend to verify the information BEFORE sending money or providing credit card information by phone or e-mail.
It is vitally important that the incident be reported every time it occurs, to allow police to investigate and prevent others of becoming victims.
If you have any information that may assist with the investigation, please contact Lambton County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
