Staff
Grey County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding residents to be aware of a scam known as the “prize pitch”. On Wednesday, January 28, a resident in the Municipality of Meaford received a phone call from an unknown caller stating she had won $500,000 in a Reader’s Digest contest for senior citizens. When she told the caller that she hadn’t entered any contest, she was told that her name was submitted to Reader’s Digest on behalf of Wal-Mart.
The resident was instructed to send a money-gram, through the post office, in the amount of $399.00 to an address in Brooklyn, New York, USA in order to claim her prize. This was the third call of this nature she had received since last Friday. In the first call, she was told she had won 1.5 million dollars. She recognized this to be a scam.
Grey County OPP wish to remind residents that the “prize pitch” is one of the most common scams. The prizes could include cash, vehicles, electronics and trips. The “winner” is asked to pay an advance fee for shipping and or taxes in order to claim the prize.
Remember, if you have to enter a contest in order to win and, should you be a winner in a legitimate contest, you won’t be asked to forward money or buy goods to claim your prize.
Anyone receiving a call, email or letter of this nature should contact police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at www.antifraudcentre.ca or toll free 1-888-495-8501.
