Residents are reminded to be cautious when dealing with unknown individuals after at least three residents in their 90s were convinced in the past week to surrender their debit and credit cards.
The Guelph Police Service has received several reports of residents receiving calls from individuals who claim to represent the fraud department of the residents’ bank. During these calls the victims will be convinced their credit or debit cards have been compromised and instructed to turn the cards over to a “courier” so the bank can fully investigate.
The scammers will also send the victims a link which replicates their bank’s online login page. By clicking on the link and answering a series of questions the victims provide the scammers with their PIN and online log-in credentials.
During the three recent occurrences in Guelph, individuals have attended the victims’ addresses and been given their credit and debit cards. Financial losses of as much as $5,000 have been reported.
The supposed “courier” in the recent cases has been described as a white male in his 20s with blonde or brown hair and a medium build.
Anyone who recognizes the male in the attached photos is asked to contact Detective Constable Cecilia Hudecki at 519-824-1212, ext. 7215, or email chudecki@guelphpolice.ca. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.csgw.tips.
Residents are encouraged to be wary of any telephone call, email or text which requires you to take immediate action. If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent your financial institution, hang up and contact the institution directly using the number on the back of your banking card to confirm the legitimacy of the information before taking action.
The Canadian Bankers Association offers these additional tips:
- Remember that neither your bank nor a police investigator will ever request that you assist in an undercover investigation or ask you to withdraw money from your account. If you receive such a suspicious call, hang up and call police
- Never give out personal bank information over the phone unless you have called your bank using a legitimate phone number, like the one on the back of your debit card, and they ask you questions to verify your identity
- If you do need to withdraw a large sum of money for a legitimate purpose, request a bank draft or a money order as this ensures only the intended recipient is able to access the money. Criminals will not accept these forms of payment because it creates a paper trail that can be used by real investigators to track the fraudsters
- Check your bank statement frequently and report any irregularities to your bank as soon as you notice them
