Talking About Fraud Prevention

from What's Up? Georgian Bay - April 2023

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Don’t kid yourself, this could be the most-important message you will read anywhere today, this week, this month, or this year. What’s Up? Georgian Bay wants you to be safe from scammers, so read on:

This story is in front of you because of the diligent duty of Sergeant Trevor McKean of the Collingwood/Blue Mountains OPP who makes presentations throughout our southern Georgian Bay communities about fraud prevention. Sergeant McKean spoke as a guest at the hall at Trinity United Church in Collingwood recently. What he said is of the utmost importance!

Fraud is alive and well and to combat it we must all be vigilant, McKean told his audience. He spoke about the grandparenting scam. He spoke about the scam in which somebody calls and says that they are from Revenue Canada, or from the Canadian Border Services. He spoke about not signing anything. By signing anything that is presented to you, you could lose your house! Yes, the scammers are that dangerous! We repeat. Do not, ever, sign anything for anybody who comes to your door. Strangers, as smiling as they might be, can bring danger to your door. Yes, it’s a different world today than it was years ago before the internet. The smart thing to do these days, is to ignore anybody you do not know when some stranger arrives at the door.

Sergeant McKean explained how scam artists are overbearing, super-pushy and intimidating. He gave examples of how scam artists have conned people out of their houses. Yes, out of their houses! Bottom line is ... do not trust anybody who comes to your house as a stranger and suggests that you have a special deal coming your way, or that you owe money.

Think about it, don’t sign anything and send the person, or people, away, said Sergeant McKean who has a police career going back 32 years. He is presenting seminars locally and if you want more details simply call your local police department. But most important of all.... do not listen to scam artists on the phone. Just hang up! Do not let anybody that has come knocking on your door into your house! Do not hesitate to call the police department and report the person who is on the other side of your door. The scam artists are superpersuasive and super-aggressive. The scam artists have no scruples.

“Can’t happen in southern Georgian Bay,” some people might say. For the record. The scams can happen anywhere and they have happened in Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and points in between. The grandparent scam is a common one and it has had victims locally because the scammers are pushy and want to take advantage of the unsuspecting, nice people. Do not succumb! Do not fall for the grandparent scam no matter how much crying you hear at the other end of the phone. Hang up the telephone and call one of your trusted loved ones, or a trusted family friend and tell them about the call. If you want, call the police. The police will help you.

Sergeant Trevor McKean is doing important work and you can help him by spreading the word. You can help by sharing this message with friends. Once again, do not sign anything! But spread the word to help erase the chances of somebody in our community being scammed.

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