Be aware of new fraud tactic circulating

Bracebridge OPP are warning residents about scammers calling people, impersonating their bank and coming to their home.

Bracebridge OPP are alerting the public of a new scam circulating the region involving the scammer calling someone, impersonating their bank and coming to their home.

On Jan. 5, officers said they received a phone call from someone describing the fraud they experienced. The person said they answered the phone from someone they thought was a representative from their bank. The scammer had not only clearly done their research on the bank and seemed quite knowledgeable, but the phone number on the call display matched the bank’s phone number.

Police said the scammer had convinced the person that their account had been compromised and a courier service would come to their house and take the bank card of the account that the scammer said had been compromised. Someone did end up coming to the person’s residence, got their card and from there, stole thousands of dollars from their account.

Officers are warning the public that fraudsters go to great lengths to steal money from people that typically involve the use of technology. Police said they are particularly concerned about this case considering the scammer came to the person’s residence.

Tips to protect yourself

Police are reminding people of how to avoid getting scammed

• Don’t be afraid to say no
• Slow things down and verify all information with a trusted source
• Don’t give out personal information including your address, birthdate, social insurance number, credit card or banking information
• Protect your computer and watch for urgent looking messages
• Use strong passwords for online accounts
• Recognize spoofing, which is when fraudsters can make it seem like they are someone else, by manipulating phone numbers and caller ID, text messages and email addresses
• Never click on links received through text or email

This investigation remains ongoing. For more information on how to protect yourself from scams, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.