OPP: Pharmacy employee recognized gift card scam in Picton
Less than a week after issuing a warning about a scam that saw fraudsters attend a victim’s house in Prince Edward County (PEC), the PEC detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding everyone to “stay safe and not become a victim of fraud.”
According to a release from the PEC detachment, the OPP received a report last week from an individual who advised they lost $17,000 to scammers.
“The individual received a call from someone claiming to work in the fraud department of the bank,” police said. “The instructions directed the individual to deposit money into a local cryptocurrency ATM. The suspect then directed the individual to purchase additional gift cards. The individual went to Rexall in Picton where an employee went above and beyond by stopping the individual from being further victimized and directed them to the OPP.”
OPP added that fraudsters are clever and will often have an answer to any question, and provided the following tips:
- Do not be afraid to say no
- Do your research
- Do not give out personal information
- Ask for credentials- know who you’re dealing with
- If it seems too good to be true, it likely is!
“Fraudsters often target vulnerable populations,” police continued. “Share this information with others, especially those vulnerable, to prevent victimization. Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information.”
In the release, the OPP said it would like to thank employees for being vigilant of gift card sales, as it makes a difference.