Police Warn About Scams During The Pandemic

Monday, 20 April 2020 06:00

Woodstock Police are reminding residents to be on high alert for scams and frauds right now. As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across the Country, scammers are looking to take advantage.

WOODSTOCK - Scams continue to be on the rise over the last week. Woodstock Police want to remind everyone to be cautious of scams or frauds especially during the pandemic.

Scammers are known to take advantage of heightened emotions such as fear, anxiety, and excitement and will try to act urgently especially during trying times. Take your time and think critically before taking action.

Police say it is extremely important to protecting yourself and your family by screening callers and emails from unknown phone numbers and email addresses.

If you receive a home visit, phone call, text message or email from an unknown person requesting or offering money do not send/accept money and do not share personal information. Delete the message, hang up the phone or do not open your door.

Several Types of Scams recently reported to WPS:

· Receiving emails in relation to a grant – may request personal information or money

· Fraudulent emails from “IRS” requesting more money be paid.

· Fraudulent emails from the CRA – requesting personal information confirmation and money

· Stranger attending the home with envelope of cash claiming to be purchasing yard tools from an online classifieds ad (Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace)

· Sextortion – scammer claiming to be monitoring victim’s device cameras and allegedly possesses explicit photo/video content of the victim. As proof the scammer provides a password the victim may currently or has previously used. These passwords are retrieved from previous security breaches of various online social networks. The scammer requests money in exchange for not publishing the explicit photos/videos.

To report a scam, more information about common and recent scams and additional information to prevent victimization of these crimes, visit The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.