PARRY SOUND,ON- Police are reminding residents to be wary of potential scams as more people report losing thousands of dollars.
The most recent version is a romance scam where the victim meets the fraudster on social media. The OPP said in a news release that two people from Parry Sound sent over $100,000 to cover flights, hospital bills or for bail money.
Police added the scammers get the victim’s trust over time by giving them affection and eventually ask to meet in person. The fraudster will claim they can’t afford to meet though and need money.
Officers added the scam can come in other forms with the fraudster asking for money for an emergency like a sick relative. Police said the scammers usually ask for payment through a money service like Western Union, pre-paid gift cards or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Anyone who has fallen victim to a scam or knows someone who has is advised to contact the OPP or their local police service. Scams can also be reported to the Canadian Anti‐Fraud Centre on its website.