Police say victims have lost nearly $1-million in an investment fraud scam affecting the Leeds-Grenville region.
According to OPP Provincial Constable Dave Holmes, the scam was first identified in Prescott in June. A victim reported losing roughly $100,000 to someone claiming to be a securities investor, who the victim says offered income tax and bookkeeping services.
Officer Holmes says the suspected scammer has been connected to similar incidents in Brockville, Rideau Lakes, and Kingston in the months since the initial report. The Grenville County OPP detachment, with help from the Brockville Police Service, have identified five more victims, who report having lost another $800,000 to the scam.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, the name of the suspect and the company cannot be disclosed at this time,” Holmes says, “however investigators believe the suspect may be continuing to target possible investors.”
He also says securities investors in Canada need to be registered, either provincially or locally, and looking up your investment advisor to see if they’re registered is an easy way to keep yourself safe from similar scams.