Provincial police are investigating a scam that saw a North Perth resident defrauded tens of thousands over the course of several months.
According to Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), officers were contacted last Monday by an individual who claimed they were a victim of fraud stemming from October 24, 2022 to February 17, 2023.
An investigation by police revealed that the victim was called by someone who identified themselves as an employee of an organization called "Mega Millions Winners Circle." The victim was reportedly told that they had won $4.2-million and a Mercedes vehicle from a magazine subscription they were a part of.
Police say the suspect told the victim they would need to pay taxes on their winnings, but offered to transfer money to their account to cover the costs, so the victim wouldn't lose any money. The victim lost a total of $25,000 through the scam.
"The OPP would like to remind the public that fraudsters and scammers are still extremely active and are employing various techniques to steal your hard-earned money," read a statement from police.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a fraud, call police and report the crime, or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8591.