The victim was defrauded through a popular buy and sell website | Photo by B. Shakyaver
A person from North Middlesex got scammed into giving away a $500 deposit for an item they wanted to buy online.
On March 29th, OPP got a call about a scam in North Middlesex, and after looking into it, they found out that the victim saw an ad on a popular social networking buy and sell website. The seller asked for a deposit to hold the item, promising to finish the deal later.
The victim sent $500 through e-transfer. But when they went to the address the seller gave, they realized it was fake.
The police are still investigating.
Fraud is a big problem, and scammers use tricks to confuse people and make them hand over money. One common trick is to post a fake item for sale and ask for a deposit before showing the product. Then, they disappear after getting the money.
To avoid scams, it’s important to see the item in person before paying. It’s also safer to meet in public places, like the designated parking spots at police stations.
Always be careful with unsolicited requests and don’t give out personal information if you feel pressured. If you’ve been scammed, you can call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you want to stay anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers.
Written by: K. Milhomens
