Wellington County OPP are warning of an ongoing puppy scam after a victim in Mount Forest lost $1,900.
According to police, officers were contacted on April 6 just after 3 p.m. by a victim who alleged that they had been duped by an online fraud scam.
Investigators say the victim was involved in a sale on an online popular social media platform with unknown suspects posing as dog breeders. The victim agreed to pay a large sum via e-transfer.
The scammers then claimed additional funds would be required to transport the dog from Northern Ontario. The victim eventually became skeptical of the situation and contacted police.
Police are taking the opportunity to once again warn people of online shopping scams. Fraudsters often create accounts on legitimate auction and online marketplace websites. They will advertise their products at very low prices, enticing you to buy them. If you do end up receiving the product, it might be of poor quality or a bad imitation of what you expected. In other instances, fraudsters might lure you into clicking on a harmful link to a seemingly genuine website.
Tips to protect yourself:
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.
