Fraud seems to be becoming more frequent in the area.
On March 20th, Perth OPP began a fraud investigation where a victim reported being scammed between October 24th, 2022, and February 27th, 2023.
The victim got a call from a person who said they are an employee of ‘Mega Millions Winners Circle’. The victim was told they won $4.2 Million and a Mercedes car from a magazine subscription. they were also told to pay the taxes up-front to receive their winnings.
The victim didn’t receive any payment or the car, the investigation is still ongoing.
In 2022, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), fraud totaled a staggering $530 million in victim losses. This was nearly a 40% increase from 2021, an unprecedented $380 million in losses. It is estimated that only 5-10% of victims report scams and frauds to the CAFC or law enforcement.
If you fall victim to fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8591 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur.
Written By: K. Close
