Scammers offering really good deals on phones, devices and service fee cuts are out for only one thing. Your money. Provincial police (OPP) say they are currently investigating multiple instances of cellphone service provider fraud. What does this fraud involve? Fraudsters are impersonating telephone company sales people and contacting people with offers of a free or heavily discounted cellphone as part of a promotional program. Victims are persuaded to accept the offer and provide personal information to process the order. After the device has been delivered, the victim realizes the device was financed under their own account and that they are now responsible for the associated payments. The fraudsters then instruct the victim to return, surrender, or transfer the phone to another person due to an alleged error, so they can fix the financing issue and apply the promotional offer properly. The promised refunds, account credits, or promotional benefits are never received. As a result, victims are left financially responsible for the financed device while the fraudsters retain possession of the phone. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre offers help to prevent against falling victim to this type of fraud. What are the warning signs? How can you protect yourself? The OPP asks people and businesses to remain vigilant to instances of fraud. Remember to carefully verify and confirm the legitimacy of any information before following through, even if it appears to come from a trusted source. If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501
