North Bay Police Service officials say fraudsters are not easing up during this pandemic in their quest to scam you out of your money.
Police say over the past week there have been two reports of residents falling victim to the “puppy scam.”
Officials say in the first instance, the victim had posted a “puppy wanted” ad online and was contacted by someone from British Columbia who said they were giving away dogs. The victim was advised that they would receive the dog if they accepted a cheque and e-transferred the money to a shipping service to cover their cost. After this was done, their bank contacted them saying the cheque was fraudulent and they had to pay back the amount of the cheque, which totalled at just over $2,000.
Officers say the second instance involved the victim responding to an ad they saw online. They were put into contact with someone who said they had just moved to Halifax and could no longer care for the dog. The victim was told the dog was free, but they would need to cover the shipping from Nova Scotia. The victim e-transferred $500 to cover the costs but was then contacted with more requests for funds and they became suspicious. The incident was reported and identified as fraud.
North Bay Police Service officials say there has also been a jump in online shopping fraud. These include the non-delivery of goods, gym equipment, treadmills, and even Lego.
Police say when it comes to fraud, take your time and look for red flags, including:
- Spelling mistakes. Read emails, messages, or websites. Misspelled common words. Red Flag
- Buy from companies or individuals that are known. No reviews. Red flag
- Reviews: check the vendor’s feedback. If there is none, or very little, don’t take a chance.
- Why is someone selling you product from so far away? Red flag
- Use a credit card when shopping online; many offer protection and may give you a refund(you can call the customer service number on the back of your credit card).
- Regularly check your credit card statements for frequent or unknown charges.
