Police issue warnings about scammers targeting residents in Mississauga and Brampton

Police are reminding residents in Mississauga and Brampton to protect themselves against fraudsters looking to make a quick buck.

As part of Crime Prevention Month, the Peel Regional Police (PRP) are raising the alarm about phone scams requesting gift cards and Bitcoin. Some Mississauga residents have also reported receiving emails pretending to be from Facebook recently.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, there are dozens of scams circulating these days, and police are reminding residents to keep an eye out for “red flags” when recieving phoncalls, texts or emails from unknown sources.

Fraudsters will often try to gain your personal information over the phone, email or even text messages and will often try to scare you into thinking you owe money.

Some scams claim you might be arrested by police, or say you owe funds to the government through the Canada Revenue Agency.

While these calls or emails might be frightening at first, police departments and the government will never ask for citizens to pay for fines using gift cards or crypto currency like Bitcoin.

The nuisance phone calls, emails & text message won’t stop! Make sure you don’t fall victim to these and other scams. Just hang up or delete! For more info: https://t.co/gTEVZAgP8Q #CPWEEK2021 #crimeprevention @peelpolice @DeputyAndrews @MDapat1919 @PeelCrimeStopp pic.twitter.com/1YHpBl790p

— PRP – Community Safety & Well-Being (@PRPCSWB) November 8, 2021

There are also scams where someone will be sent a cheque for a payment or delivery expenses when applying for a job or buying or selling items online.

The scammer will then request victims deposit the cheque into their personal account and forward money to a third party.

“If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is,” said Const. Jen Horner in an informational video from the PRP on scams. “Never deposit a cheque from an unknown source into your bank.”

If anyone you don’t know personally contacts you over phone, email or text making an immediate demand for money because of an urgent situation, do not pay.

And the PRP said to remember three simple words when facing a possible phone scam – just hang up.

For more information on how to safeguard yourself against scammers, visit peelpolice.ca and antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.