Media Release for Saturday, May 10, 2025

Fraud/Scams Circulating

The Peterborough Police Service is issuing a warning after several reports of scams involving people claiming to be from government agencies.

In one, the person claimed to be from the Department of Justice and in another the scammer claimed to be from Immigration and Border Services. In each case, the scammer said there was a complaint against the victim or that someone was using their identity, and they would need to pay money to rectify it.

Government agencies and/or law enforcement would never contact anyone demanding money in this way.

In all, about $10,000 was lost as a result.

What to watch out for:

• Urgent requests that must be dealt with
• Trying to ease your mind by saying you can call an officer (often this is a direct line to another scammer)
• Keeping you on the phone for extended periods of time
• Asking for payment in cryptocurrency or pre-paid gift cards – government agencies will never ask for payment in bit coin
• Using official phone numbers. Scammers can spoof official numbers. Double check the validity of the call by calling the agency on your own.
• Secondary scam – a call offering to help you recover your money lost to a scam
• Never pay up front for services
• If you think you have been scammed cancel your cards and notify your bank
• Ignore further communications with the scammers
• Keep all documentation

Report scams/frauds to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501

If you are the victim of a scam, please call your local police service. For those living in Peterborough, Lakefield and Cavan-Monaghan that is the Peterborough Police Service.

Learn more:

https://www.peterboroughpolice.com/fraud

Sandra Dueck
Manager, Strategic Communication Services
Peterborough Police Service
sdueck@peterborough.ca
705-876-1122 x217