NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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The South Simcoe Police Service wants to make the public aware of recent scams involving fake Amazon employees.
One complainant received an email that appeared legitimate from Amazon stating the person had a refund and requesting her banking information and Social Insurance Number. Another victim received an automated phone call from Amazon asking if she had made a particular purchase. The call instructed the victim to press 1 for yes and 2 for no. The victim pressed 2 and was told by a fake investigator to transfer money to an overseas account to help catch culprits who had supposedly hacked her account.
March is Fraud Prevention Month. Here are some tips to help protect yourself from scams:
• If it feels wrong, it probably is. Hang up or delete.
• Do not press a number or click on a link before verifying the source.
• Never provide personal information to an unknown caller or email.
• Messages via phone, email or text that have a sense of urgency and are asking you to take immediate action are red flags.
When it comes to fraud, knowledge is power. Learn about the latest scams by visiting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
If you receive a suspicious call, email or text from Amazon report it to police, Amazon or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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