A Wellington North resident has lost half a million dollars after being scammed online.
According to Wellington County OPP, they were contacted on the morning of August 18 by an Arthur resident who claimed to have lost $500,000 in an online investment scam.
The victim alleged they had begun investing with an online investment firm in February of this year. In August, the victim requested to cash out on their investment, and the fraudster disappeared. Phone numbers were no longer in service, and emails went unanswered.
If you have experienced a similar incident, please call the OPP anytime, anywhere in the Province of Ontario at 1-888-310-1122. Police are urging the public to be cautious and vigilant to reduce the risk of being a victim of fraud.
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.