The Grey Bruce detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging the public to exercise extreme caution regarding online pop-up scams, following an incident which a community member was defrauded of a significant amount of gold.
The investigation began on April 14, after the victim reported providing access to their banking information and over $63,000 in cash and gold to individuals fraudulently posing as Microsoft representatives.
The Grey Bruce OPP is urging the public to be vigilant regarding unsolicited online messages, phone calls, or emails requesting personal or financial information, or demanding urgent action. Reputable companies and financial institutions will never request remote access to your computer or demand payment in the form of gold, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
The Grey Bruce OPP reminds the public to exercise caution and skepticism when dealing with unsolicited communications.
For more information on fraud prevention, visit opp.ca/fraud and sfo.opp.ca.
If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online via the Fraud Reporting System.
