Huron OPP report Goderich woman charged with shoplifting; warn of scams

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) - A 38-year-old Goderich woman will be in court later this month to answer to a shoplifting charge laid by Huron County OPP.

Just before 5:30 p.m., July 23, the Huron OPP responded to the Walmart store located on Huron Road in Central Huron, to assist with a shoplifting investigation. A loss prevention officer had taken the female suspect into custody after she exited the store without paying for several items. 

Police found the suspect to be in possession of $60 worth of stolen items. 38-year-old Carrie SHAW of Goderich has been charged with Theft Under $5,000. She has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for Aug. 21, at the Ontario Court of Justice - Goderich.
 

*THIS CHARGE HAS YET TO BE PROVEN IN COURT*
 

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PARKING TICKET AND TRAFFIC TICKET SCAMS

(HURON COUNTY, ON) - The Huron County OPP warns residents once again about traffic ticket and parking ticket scams that are landing in people's E-mail in-boxes.
 
One recent target, a 63-year-old of Morris-Turnberry, received an E-mail claiming to be from "Impark Toronto." The poorly-written "Parking ticket report" requested a $40 payment be made within 14 calendar days for a parking offence. There was also a hyperlink in the E-mail with a bogus photo of the parking offence. The notice was simply another "phishing" E-mail designed to trick the recipient into sending an electronic transfer of funds to the scammers.
 
The recipient realized this was likely a scam so he contacted police to verify its authenticity. A quick on-line search revealed the traffic ticket notice was indeed a scam. Below, is a sample of a parking ticket report sent as part of a scam.



Similarly Huron County residents have received E-mail notices from government authorities such as police services, for traffic ticket offences. And just recently, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has issued a warning about a new variation of this scam. 

Individuals have been receiving E-mail notices claiming to be from the Government of Canada with photographic evidence of the recipient's/driver's vehicle failing to comply with a speed limit at a specific date, time and location. Enclosed with the E-mail is a photo of the infraction. At right, is a sample of the speeding ticket scam.

Fraudsters will use the name and logo of legitimate businesses, police and government services, as a tactic to obtain personal information from unsuspecting consumers.

Government bodies and police agencies do not issue traffic notices via E-mail, nor do they request E-mail addresses during traffic stops.

The Huron OPP offers the following tips to protect you from being the victim of these E-mail scams:

Warning signs - How to protect yourself:
 

• Beware of unsolicited E-mails from individuals or organizations prompting you to click on an attachment or link. Do not click on the links.
• Any unexpected E-mail correspondence regarding parking enforcement should be treated as fake. 
• Watch for spelling and formatting errors.
• Check the embedded hyperlink in the suspicious E-mail by hovering your mouse over the link to verify the address.
• Go with your gut. If an E-mail seems fishy, it probably is. Delete the E-mail.

How to report fraudulent E-mails

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll-free number is 1-888-495-8501, the OPP non-emergent number is 1-888-310-1122 or at www.opp.ca/reporting