June 19, 2015
1541
(ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH) – A Huron County senior, living on a fixed income, was recently scammed for several thousand dollars by a pair of smooth-talking con-artists.
The 69-year-old female victim, of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, called police earlier this month to report the scam after learning she was a victim.
During the first week of June, the victim received calls from two men claiming to be FBI agents from Texas. The fake FBI agents convinced the victim they were investigators working on an earlier fraud that had duped the victim. They stated they now needed her assistance in bringing the scammers to justice. They told the victim she would receive a cheque in the mail for $20,000 for her services; however, they first needed her to transfer them some money.
The scammers instructed her to take $6,000 out of her bank account. If she were to be questioned about the withdrawal, she was supposed to tell the bank teller the money was going to be used to purchase a car. The scammers then instructed her to go to the post office, a grocery store and a local pharmacy where she then completed wire transfers with the cash. After sending the first three transfers of $2,000 each, the victim then sent another $500 via a wire transfer to the scammers. After sending the last $500, the victim started to question what she had just done, so she returned to the bank where she was informed that she had been scammed.
This is a variation of the advance-fee scam. This scam works when the fraudsters target victims to make advance or upfront payments for goods, services and/or financial gains that do not materialize.
Victims need to protect themselves. Do not respond to solicitations to send money or personal information to people you don’t know. Using money transfer services for emergency situations, to claim a prize or to assist investigators with an investigation, is a sure sign of a scam. ever respond to these “offers”.
If you are uncertain or feel uneasy about the offer presented to you, please consult with your trusted family members or friends prior to sending any money. Alternatively, you can always check with your local police service or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to check on the legitimacy of the offer.
If you suspect that you may be a target of a fraud, or if you have already sent funds, don't be embarrassed - you're not alone. If you want to report a fraud, or if you need more information, contact the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
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