Haldimand County resident loses $45K to investment scam: OPP

Le Centre antifraude du Canada indique que plus de 41 000 cas de fraude ont été signalés l'année dernière.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say a resident in Haldimand County has lost more than $45,000 to an investment scam.

Police said the fraudster convinced the victim to send money multiple times over a two-month period, after connecting through a popular social media platform.

No further details were shared about the scheme or how the victim was convinced to hand over the funds.

The OPP continue to urge victims of fraud to contact their local police department to report the crime, as well as contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501, or online through the Fraud Reporting System (FRS) at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/, even if there was no financial loss.

“It is estimated that only five to 10 per cent of victims report scams and frauds to the CAFC or law enforcement,” OPP said in a media release Wednesday.

They also shared tips on how to avoid an investment scam:

• Don’t give out your personal information (name, address, date of birth, SIN or banking credentials).
• Don’t invest your money in platforms provided by people you do not know.
• Protect your online accounts.
• Never send money to someone you have not met.
• Don’t respond to text messages from phone numbers you do not recognize.