Police are investigating after a elderly man was scammed out of $19,000 in Thames Centre.
The Ontario Provincial Police says the victim was contacted by another man to say he had won a sizable lottery prize. However, the victim was told in order to collect his winnings, he would have to send a significant amount of money.
The elderly man initially refused, but the suspects called back nine separate times encouraging him to send more money.
By the time police were contacted, the thieves had collected $19,549 of the man's savings.
The investigation is ongoing but police say these cases often prove very difficult to resolve.
Police are advising the public that if something sounds too good to be true it is, and never give money to anyone you are not familiar with. Always check with a trusted family member or friend before you ever send money to an unknown person.