More than two dozen reported scams have cost South Bruce residents over $150,000 since the start of the year.
According to South Bruce OPP, 26 fraud-related reports have been filed with officers in its jurisdiction only a month and a half into 2025.
The scams range from fraudsters using stolen identities to get credit cards, posing as government officials to get banking information, and conning people through phoney online marketplace advertisements.
Two of the more notable scams involve catfishing - a person posing as someone they are not to gain trust and usually funds. In one incident, a person pretended to be promoting a celebrity meet-and-greet, taking the victim for $7,000. In the other scam, a fraudster claimed to be the heiress of a large fortune. The victim in that case lost $100,000.
Police are using these incidents as a reminder to the public to be cautious of fraudulent encounters.
"Scams are attempted daily by phone, email, social media, text message, online pop-ups, and traditional mail," said police. "Largely, frauds are preventable. Remember that you can't win a contest you never entered. If something seems to good to be true, it likely is."
Police add that no legitimate business or government agency will ask you to send them codes for gift cards and that some fraudsters go as far as to clone phone numbers so it appears they are actually calling from financial institutions, government agencies, or even a police service. Residents are also advised not to click any links or call numbers listed in unsolicited emails or text messages.
More information about ongoing scams can be found on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website at www.antifraudcentre.ca.