(NORFOLK COUNTY, ON) - The Norfolk County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is warning the public following several reports of phone and online scams targeting local residents.

In recent incidents, residents received unsolicited calls from individuals posing as representatives of trusted businesses or agencies. These fraudsters use false claims - like compromised accounts or outstanding balances - to trick victims into sharing personal or financial information.

The OPP is also warning residents to be cautious of investment offers on social media. Some scams involve downloading apps that give fraudsters remote access to your device, allowing them to take control of accounts and make unauthorized transactions.

Before investing in unfamiliar companies or opportunities, residents are encouraged to use trusted resources such as:

• Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) - A national organization that helps protect investors. Their website can help you check if the person or company offering the investment is properly registered
• Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) - Ontario’s investment regulator. They provide alerts, tips, and tools to help you avoid scams and make safe investment decisions

The OPP urges everyone to protect themselves by never sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers, and by being extremely cautious before downloading any app or software at someone else’s request.

FRAUD: Recognize. Reject. Report.