NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police has recently received numerous inquiries from citizens, regarding telephone calls attempting to raise money for various area organizations.
The caller may identify themselves as a representative of a local organization and will offer to accept money on behalf of the organization. Please seek information from the caller that you can verify before you give your support such as calling or checking online the organization and their fundraising activities. Remember, official government agencies or financial institutions will never ask you for personal information over the phone.
For more information regarding ongoing scams in Canada or to report fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at http://antifraudcentre.ca/ or spend some time researching the following link -https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/fraud-prevention-month-2021-watch-out-for-online-scams-825927409.html.
Here are some tips to protect yourself:
- Don't be afraid to say no or hang up
- Watch out for urgent pleas that play on your emotions or intimidating high-pressure tactics
- Do your research and verify the legitimacy of the call
- If in doubt, hang up and call a publicly listed phone number for the company the caller claims to represent
- Don't give out personal information, such as your name, address, birthdate, credit card, banking or social insurance
- Protect your online accounts by creating strong passwords and keep them private
- Don't reveal personal information over social media
Officers of the Southern Georgian OPP value your contribution in a partnership to building safer communities. If you have information about suspected unlawful activity, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-822-8477 (TIPS) or www.crimestopperssdm.com.
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