An online fraud incident in Palmerston has caused the Wellington County OPP to issue another warning to the public.
According to police, on December 15 at 12:30 p.m., officers responded to the report of an online fraud that occurred in Palmerston.
A victim told police that they were attempting to purchase $300 worth of firewood from a seller on an online marketplace website. Apparently, the seller demanded that the victim pay the full amount upfront via e-transfer, instead of paying cash upon delivery.
The victim paid the amount, and the firewood was scheduled for delivery the following day, but never arrived.
Following this incident, the victim contacted police, and investigators noticed several "red flags" regarding the seller's fraudulent profile, including photos suggesting the individual was based in Texas.
Police are once again warning of the pitfalls of online shopping fraud.
Ways to protect yourself include:
Be wary of websites that contain grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
Only buy from companies or individuals you know by reputation or from past experience.
Look for reviews but remember that some can be fake!
Analyze the seller's profile: where are they located? How old is their profile? Are they using a stock photo as their profile picture?
Use a credit card when shopping online - many offer protections and may give you a refund.
Know the market value of the item you're buying.
If a deal sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
Fraudsters will often create a sense of urgency and try to pressure a buyer into a deal.
For more information on scams and frauds, the public is encouraged to read The Little Black Book of Scams, which can be found online: https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html
If you are the recipient of a fraudulent call, text, or email, or if you have been a victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
