Fraud Warning
The Fraud Unit is noticing an increase in cryptocurrency fraud complaints.
Recently a victim was contacted and directed to use a bitcoin ATM to deposit money into the fraudsters account. On this occasion the victim was told they were speaking to a fraud advisor at a financial institution and to deposit money into a cryptocurrency account.
In this incident, the victim was scammed out of approximately $14,000.
Since August 2021 we have received at least nine cryptocurrency/bitcoin related fraud complaints. We urge everyone in the community, do not transfer money or cryptocurrency to anyone you do not know.
Often, seniors and new Canadians are targeted in these cryptocurrency related frauds. Please have a discussion with people in your life, and ensure they are aware of these types of fraudulent activity.
Staff at a business with a bitcoin ATM are trained and often recognize potential victims and warn them not to transfer money. If a staff member advises you, it is fraudulent, please take their advice and contact police.
If you ever have any concerns about a potential scam or fraudulent activity, please contact police by calling 705-949-6300.
Do not share personal information with anyone you do not know over the phone. Remember, you are not obligated to share your information with others. Do not be shy about asking the person on the phone questions about why they are requesting money or personal information.
If you have second thoughts, end the communication. It is not rude, it is cautious. Protect yourself and your personal information at all times.
For more tips to Protect Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft visit www.saultpolice.ca and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.