Windsor police are warning the public about fraud scams involving online employment agencies after several complaints.
They are reminding the public to be careful about giving out personal information.
"The Windsor Police Service Financial Crimes Branch would like to remind the public to be cautious and vigilant when giving out any personal information; whether it be over the phone, online, or in person," police said in a Tuesday afternoon tweet.
They said fraudsters are acting like legitimate companies to access people's information from resumes posted online through employment agencies. This information is then used to contact job seekers to begin the scam.
"The Windsor Police Service has recently received complaints from persons who are contacted by what appear to be legitimate companies and are being offered job opportunities," added police.
They said the complainants are sent a cheque and told it is part of their wage for accepting the position. The fraud victims are told to deposit the cheque and send a portion of the money back to the employer for equipment, software, services, or even an overpayment of wages. Police said the cheque will bounce and the victims will lose the money they transferred. Investigators said legitimate companies do not ask for any money to be sent or send money before any work is complete.
"If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true," police added. "Caution still needs to be used to protect your personal information."
