The Grenville County OPP is warning residents after a Kemptville woman was nearly victimized by a phone scam.
On Tuesday, around 12:22 p.m., officers responded to a complaint from a woman who said her daughter left their home in a hurry believing she would be arrested.
Media Relations Officer Dave Holmes says they eventually located the woman outside a Kemptville retail store.
“The mother called for assistance and officers were able to identify a phone number, contacted the female and located her,” Holmes said. “That’s where the officer realized she was part of a phone scam and was about to buy gift cards.”
The phone scam in question involves the suspect demanding the victim to purchase gift cards in order to avoid arrest.
Holmes says luckily for the woman, the scam was intercepted before a transaction was made.
“Basically, they ask you to purchase gift cards in exchange for an arrest warrant being dismissed,” Holmes said. “Obviously, what we try to get to the public is that these are scams and that enforcement agencies would never contact you and ask you to buy gift cards to avoid arrest, or anything like that.”
If you shared personal information or banking details with scammers, you should contact your financial institution immediately to place alerts on your account.
Those who’ve been defrauded should report it to police or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
