(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, ON) - The Middlesex County OPP is investigating a report of what is commonly known as the "Hitman" scam. This is one of the many extortion scams identified by law enforcement and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
On December 7, 2017, a resident of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre contacted police after receiving multiple emails claiming that the author of the email had been hired by a third party to harm them.
The scammer requested $10,000 as payment from the intended victim to "stop the operation" This is a scam!
"Extortion scams refer to any person who unlawfully obtains money, property, or services from a person, entity or institution through coercion. Scammers come up with new reasons why you would urgently need to pay them money.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre continues to receive complaints on the hitman scam and is advising the public to ignore these e-mails which use death threats to frighten and scam consumers.
These e-mails claim that "you have been betrayed by someone" and that they have been hired to "kill you". The e-mails go on to say that at a cost (usually double what the hitman was paid), the scammer will cancel the contract and provide the name of the individual who hired him.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommends anyone receiving these e-mails not to respond. In addition to scamming the victims financially, these fraudsters also hope to acquire personal information so that they can steal your identity". - Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Extortion Scams. http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/fraud-escroquerie/types/extortion-extorsion/index-eng.htm