Peel Police are Warning Residents to be Aware of Scams

Published November 12, 2018 at 2:16 pm

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Peel Police are warning residents in the region to be aware of frauds and scams.

According to a recent news release, every year it seems police see more frauds and scams.

In 2017 Peel Police received 1,957 fraud reports. 

The following are the most common emergency scams that typically occur through email or phone.

The Emergency Scam

This scam usually involves someone presenting themselves as a government or financial institution. They will inform you that you have a bill that is past due and requires immediate payment. The caller will request your personal or banking information to gain access to your account.

Or…

You could receive an automated call saying they work for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or Immigration Department demanding you pay funds immediately. Advising failure to pay will result in you going to jail or being deported.

Or…

The caller will state that your family member has been arrested. They could claim to be an officer or lawyer who will give instructions on how to send money so the family member can be released.

Or…

The message will say they have accessed your email, phone messages or social media accounts and have obtained incriminating video or information about you and failure to make a payment will result in the information becoming public.

What to do if this happens?

Do not provide callers with any personal information, including any account numbers, social insurance number, maiden names, passport information, or passwords.

Disconnect the line or delete the message and do not open any links or attachments.

If you have any concerns, contact your regular provider using the phone number on your account statement to confirm that your services and payments are in order.

You can also visit the government agencies website to verify any requests or contact the police if you are concerned about someone’s safety or well-being. 

The reasons for a scam are always changing, but it will always be urgent and require immediate payment.

For more information on frauds and related safety tips click here

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