The Brant County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a fraud complaint in Paris following an incident reported on Wednesday, January 23, 2024.
A member of the Brant OPP responded to a fraud complaint in Brant County, discovering that the complainant had received a call from an individual claiming to be a law enforcement official. The caller alleged that the complainant’s grandson was in custody due to a collision and urgently needed $6000 for bail.
In response to this alarming call, the complainant, trusting the fraudulent information, visited a local Purolator location to dispatch the money to an address in Quebec. It was only later, upon realizing the scam, that the complainant contacted the Brant OPP.
Officers immediately urged the complainant to contact Purolator to intercept the shipment before reaching its destination. Fortunately, the complainant was able to recover their funds. Sadly, not all individuals are as fortunate.
The Brant OPP would like to underscore the need for heightened awareness regarding fraudulent schemes. Authorities remind the public to exercise caution when receiving unexpected calls, especially those requesting urgent financial transactions. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please contact your local police, and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
