The Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) remind community members to be wary of prize-type scams that may be received online, by mail or by telephone.
Officers have investigated a number of these types of calls in which the alleged prize winner is notified of the "win" only to be told that they have to provide money or gift cards up front to collect the prize which, of course, never existed in the first place.
Warning signs - How to protect yourself
- If you win, it's free! You are not required to pay upfront fees to collect winnings.
- The only way to participate in any foreign lottery is to go to the country of origin and purchase a ticket in person. A ticket cannot be purchased on your behalf.
- Beware of counterfeit cheques claiming to be part of your winnings.
- Never give out personal information over the phone, no matter who the caller claims to represent.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud or if you think someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti‐Fraud Centre at 1‐888‐495‐8501 or report online at www.antifraudcentre.ca. If not a victim, report it to the CAFC anyway.
Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself.
