Huron County OPP are investigating a recent bank fraud.
On February 21, a 28-year-old from Perth County was pumping gas at a station in Exeter. The individual paid for their gas with a credit card at the gas pump.
Following the payment, the individual received a phone call informing them their credit card had been compromised. The caller requested the individual's credit card number and verification code, which the victim provided.
The victim was then instructed to e-transfer $7,500 to themselves to "save" their money. The victim received a verification code, but then realized their money had been stolen from their account.
The victim contacted the OPP and filed a report with their banking institution.
March is Fraud Prevention Month, and the below figures show how fraud is an ongoing concern in Canada.
How to protect yourself:
Don't give out your personal information (name, address, DOB, SIN, banking credentials).
Don't accept friend requests from people you do not know.
Don't invest your money in platforms provided by people you don't know.
Be careful who you share images with. Suspects will often use explicit pictures to extort victims into sending more money.
Protect your online accounts.
Get more than one quote for home repair work and never feel pressured.
Never send money to someone you haven't met.
Don't respond to text messages from phone numbers you do not recognize.
Learn more tips and tricks for protecting yourself.
If you fall victim to a fraud or know someone who has, contact your local police service to report the crime and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), even if a financial loss did not occur.