GUELPH – Police are reminding residents to be very cautious when dealing with unknown parties online after a Guelph man lost more than $6,000 through an employment scam.
Guelph Police say the victim in his 50s received a message from an unknown sender inviting him to interview for a data entry position and subsequently participated in an interview by text.
Following the ‘interview,’ the man was told he had secured the job but needed specific equipment including a laptop and iPhone.
“He received a cheque via email and was told to deposit it to his account using a mobile app, then provided a list of vendors to whom funds should be sent to purchase the required equipment,” police said in a news release.
Eventually, the victim learned the cheques were fraudulent and he had lost $6,245.
Residents are encouraged to be wary of any telephone call, email or text received from a sender not personally known by you, especially if the sender is asking you to take immediate action or provide funds or personal information.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Even if no financial loss has been sustained, interactions can still be reported to the CAFC.
