Co-worker victim of email fraud

Prince Edward OPP are investigating a report from a person who had been defrauded through an email from a co-worker.

The female contacted OPP to report she had received a fraudulent email from her supervisor requesting she purchase gift cards for an event. The gift card activation codes were then sent, causing a loss of approximately $300.

Prince Edward OPP Community Safety Officer Const. Aaron Miller reminds that “scammers are sneaky and sly. They can target anyone, from youngsters to retirees. They can also target businesses. No one is immune to fraud,” he said.

Fraudsters will target victims online, over the phone, by mail and in person.

Thousands of Canadians lose millions of dollars to fraudsters every year.

The Competition Bureau of Canada has released a booklet called “The Little Book of Scams” and it outlines the 12 most common scams currently targeting Canadians. It is filled with tips and tricks on how to protect yourself and what to do if you get scammed.

In addition to the booklet, you can consult numerous websites for more information.

And finally, report the incident.

“Anyone can be targeted, from teenagers, to grandparents, to senior corporate officers. The best thing you can do is to report the fraud, whatever the amount, to the appropriate authorities. Don’t be embarrassed as it will help others from falling for it.”

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, managed by the RCMP, the Competition Bureau and the Ontario Provincial Police have plenty of information on fraud.

Visit: www.competitionbureau.gc.ca 
and
www.antifraudcentre.ca