On May 31, 2021, at 7 p.m., the Hawkesbury Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call for service that involved cyber fraud.
The victim explained that they had seen an advertisement selling a dog from a person on social media and agreed to pay $400 worth of a gift card and send the code via messenger. The victim sent the code and received a false address from the seller before being blocked.
Once the code from the back of a gift card or other such cards is given, it is untraceable and there is no way of identifying the person.
If you do fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, individuals are urged to contact their local police service 1-888-310-1122 and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501.
For more fraud facts and figures and a downloadable booklet (PDF), visit The Competition Bureau of Canada website here.
You may also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. All tips are anonymous and you will not have to attend court. Visit CrimeStoppers.
