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Local resident loses big money in new telephone scam

Fraudsters are using gift cards as an untraceable form of payment for their scams.
gift cards shutterstock_197413199 2016
File photo.

Police say a local resident recently lost a substantial amount of money to a fraudster who claimed to be with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The caller threatened to arrest the victim and the victim’s family members if certain fees were not paid.

The victim was then directed to make a payment in the form of iTunes gift cards.

Out of fear, the victim complied and spent a substantial amount of money on gift cards, travelling to several retailers to fulfil the request. The fraudster then asks the victim to scratch the cards purchased to reveal the activation numbers and to relay these numbers to the fraudster over the phone.

Thus, the fraudster was given access to buy products with these gift cards or to re-sell the cards online.

Police say new scam is similar to the ongoing scam from fraudsters claiming to be from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

The public is reminded that gift cards are never used by legitimate agencies seeking to collect an outstanding debt. Anyone who receives a telephone call, an email or other message that they owe money and that payment can be made by gift card is being drawn into a fraud scam.

The goals of these fraudsters is to take your money and to take as much of your money as they can.

Notice from Citizenship and Immigration Canada

While Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) may occasionally contact clients via telephone in order to collect additional information to continue processing an application or with regard to requesting additional documentation, CIC will never ask clients for any sort of payment via the telephone. In addition, CIC does not ask clients to confirm basic personal information that has already been provided on an application form (i.e. date of birth, passport number, etc). For more information, visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/protection/fraud/internet.asp

 

If you are targeted, hang up immediately. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the central agency in Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence on such matters as mass marketing fraud, advance fee fraud, Internet fraud and identification theft complaints. Report scams if you have been targeted by calling the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or by visiting online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

If you are a resident of North Bay or Callander and you fell victim to a scam, don’t be embarrassed. It’s not always easy to spot a scam and new ones are invented every day. Contact the North Bay Police Service in person at 135 Princess Street West or by telephone at 705-497-5555. (For those who live outside of North Bay and Callander, contact your local police.)