(GUELPH-ERAMOSA TOWNSHIP, ON) - The Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning residents about online fraud after a local resident fell victim.

On July 28, 2025, at approximately 8:30 am, the Wellington County OPP received a report from a Rockwood resident who lost $24,500 in an online fraud scam. The victim was experiencing computer issues and turned to an online chatbot for support. An unknown suspect took control of the victim’s computer virtually, advising the victim had a virus and stated they would need to provide a photocopied cheque in order for the virus to be removed.

Days later, the victim was contacted by a suspect, who this time stated that the victim’s information had been leaked online, and they would need to pay $20,000 for it to be removed. The victim complied by meeting at a local parking lot and providing the requested funds to another unknown suspect. The victim was contacted again and asked for additional money, to which the victim provided $4,500 worth of gift cards over the phone. Eventually, a suspicious family member suggested the victim contact police.

Warning signs to look out for when receiving unsolicited messages include: Emails, text-messages or phone calls sent at odd times of the night, creating a false sense of urgency, spelling errors, lack of punctuation or capitals in sentences, automated messages, random links or attachments, and generic business or company names.