SCAM ALERT! Beware of COVID-19 fraud.
The Peterborough Police Service is warning residents that scams related to COVID-19 are beginning to circulate across Ontario.
Although the service has not officially received a complaint or report of the activity in its jurisdiction (City of Peterborough, Lakefield and Cavan Monaghan Township), it is aware of content and conversations being shared on social media regarding these types of fraudsters in the communities.
To be proactive, the service is alerting residents and providing important crime prevention messaging about COVID scams.
“It’s certainly sad and disconcerting that people are looking to take advantage and prey on the vulnerable during stressful and uncertain times,” said Det. Const. Alison Dyer of the service’s fraud unit.
“Whether speaking to someone over the phone, online or at your doorstep, we remind residents always to stop, pause and think before providing any personal or banking information or agreeing to one of these fraudulent services.”
Dyer adds that when in doubt, residents should call a trusted family member or friend, their bank, insurance provider, police or the Peterborough Public Health Unit to verify the person’s identity and the service or product they are claiming to provide related to COVID-19.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website, COVID-19 scams currently circulating include the following:
- Private companies offering fast COVID-19 tests for sale
- Consumers purchasing large amounts of products and reselling them at higher prices
- Door-to-door fraudsters offering fake decontamination services
- Fraudsters posing as police to issue fines to consumers wearing masks
- Fraudsters urging people to invest in new stocks related to the disease
- Phishing, spear-phishing and other malicious email campaigns
- Fraudulent and deceptive online ads
To avoid COVID-19 fraud, police advise only visiting reputable sites for information, including the Peterborough Public Health Unit, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada.
They also advise:
Contact your insurance provider to answer any health insurance questions
- Beware of high-priced or low-quality products
- Beware of unsolicited medical advisory emails with links or attachments
- Fraudsters may spoof the information of government and health care organizations
- Beware of miracle cures, herbal remedies and other questionable offers, such as vaccinations, faster tests, etc.
- Beware of unauthorized or fraudulent charities requesting money for victims or research.
- Verify that a charity is registered by visiting online.
Scam Alert! To report fraud, contact the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or online or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online.
Source: SCAM Alert! Beware of COVID-19 fraud. Global News
Related Articles:
Newsletters
Newsletter – February 2020
NewslettersEvents & SponsorshipArticles & Publications
Newsletter – August 2019
NewslettersEvents & SponsorshipArticles & Publications
Newsletter – May 2019
NewslettersEvents & SponsorshipArticles & Publications
Newsletter – April 2019
NewslettersEvents & SponsorshipArticles & Publications
E-Newsletter – February 2019
Events & Sponsorship
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Articles & Publications
Do corporate loans count as taxable income?
Do corporate loans count as taxable income? When shareholders or employees borrow money from a corporation, that money is generally considered taxable income. But this rule, like many CRA rules, has exceptions. Many shareholders and employees borrow funds from their...
Beware of using your corporation’s income to pay personal expenses.
Beware of using your corporation's income to pay personal expenses. Suppose you own an incorporated business or professional corporation. In that case, it can be pretty tempting to pay for various personal expenses out of your corporation's income, but doing so is...
How the principal residence rule works
Principal Residence Rules Since 1982, each family unit (including you, your spouse or common-law partner, and any unmarried kids under the age of 18) has been able to designate one property as its principal residence for each calendar year. To simplify the...
Introducing the new Confirm my Representative service
The new Confirm my Representative service. On October 18, 2021, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is introducing a new, two-step verification process to make authorizing a representative using Represent a Client more efficient and secure. The new process makes it easier...
The future of the COVID aid program
The future of the COVID aid program The CRB is one of three programs (alongside the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit) that replaced the initial $2,000-per-month Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) in September 2020. The...