(PERTH COUNTY, ON) - Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Perth County detachment are investigating a fraud report in the Township of Perth East.
The incident occurred August 20, 2018 when an area resident who had listed their motor vehicle for sale online engaged in conversation with a potential buyer in another country. The buyer requested money be sent to cover shipping fees.
Personal information was not exchanged; however, the seller complied with the request and forwarded over $500.00. On August 21, 2018, the seller was contacted again, this time requesting an additional $200.00. No money was sent.
Although many online transactions are legitimate, Perth County OPP members are reminding all residents to be cautious and thorough whenever buying or selling items online. Criminals will often ask you to send cash or money order payments, rather than using cheques or credit cards. They may also ask you to send money in advance, or to pay up front fees with the promise of reimbursement. Remember, payments made using cash cannot be cancelled.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre provides a wealth of information on fraud related topics, including: telemarketing scams, online scams, identity theft, door-to-door scams, business scams, email/text message scams and mail scams. Visit www.antifraudcentre.ca for more information.
Trust your intuition; if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Never disclose personal information. Do not send money anywhere in advance. Research products or services prior to buying. Legitimate businesses will never request payment in gift cards or online currencies. When it doubt, hang up the phone, close the door, or log off of your computer.