Victim of lottery scam lost ‘substantial’ amount of money

Prince Edward OPP are warning residents to to be alert to fraud attempts following an incident late last month where a family lost money in a fake lottery scam.

OPP received a report Aug. 21 from a victim who was advised they had won the lottery.

“After further discussion with the suspect, they convinced the victim to provide money in a variety of forms, resulting in a substantial loss,” states PEC OPP Acting Sgt. Aaron Miller. “The suspect is believed to have attended the victim’s house to assist in the transactions. The suspect has also requested assistance from local taxi companies. With the assistance of the crime unit, the investigation remains ongoing.”

Miller adds that fraudsters are clever and will often have an answer for any question. To protect from victimization, follow these tips:
Do not be afraid to say no
Do your research
Do not give out personal information
Ask for credentials – know who you’re dealing with
If it’s too good to be true, it likely is!

Fraudsters often target vulnerable populations. Share this information with others, especially those vulnerable, to prevent victimization. Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information.

There may be more victims of this organized scam. Anyone who has lost money because of a fraud is encouraged to report it to police at 1-888-310-1122.