Police are reminding the public to remain cautious of unsolicited phone calls.
It comes as OPP say they are investigating multiple instances of cellphone service provider fraud where fraudsters are impersonating telecommunications company representatives and contacting individuals with offers of a free or heavily discounted cellphone as part of a promotional program.
Victims are persuaded to accept the offer and provide information required to process the order and, once the device is delivered, they discover that the device was financed under their own account and that they are responsible for the associated payments.
The fraudsters then instruct the victim to return, surrender, or transfer the phone to a third party due to an alleged error, so they can fix the financing issue and apply the promotional offer properly. The promised refunds, account credits, or promotional benefits are then never received.
Police are urging individuals and businesses to remember to carefully verify and confirm the legitimacy of any information before following through, even if it appears to come from a trusted source.
If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
