London police issue warning about cash scams
London residents are being advised to be cautious when depositing or withdrawing money for another person after a few good Samaritans were defrauded.
A warning was issued on Tuesday after the London Police Service Financial Crime Unit noticed an increase in the number of reports made in regard to a specific type of fraud.
In each of the cases reported, police said a man approached a victim and claimed he lost his wallet and phone. In order to get cash, the suspect sent a fake e-transfer to the victim and they withdrew cash from an ATM to give back to the suspect. The victims didn’t realize they had been defrauded until it was too late.
Police also said there have been cases of people who agree to deposit a cheque from a suspect into their own personal bank account and then hand over cash, not realizing at the time that the cheque was fraudulent.
London police said so far, three complaints have been made. They were all from people who were approached by a suspect while walking along Richmond Street, between Dundas Street and Fanshawe Park Road.
“The London Police Service would like to remind the public that agreeing to withdraw funds from a bank account for a stranger is very risky, and usually ends up in a situation where the victim loses money,” read a release from London Polic Service.
Anyone who experienced a similar incident is asked to contact London police at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
In each of the cases reported, police said a man approached a victim and claimed he lost his wallet and phone. In order to get cash, the suspect sent a fake e-transfer to the victim and they withdrew cash from an ATM to give back to the suspect. The victims didn’t realize they had been defrauded until it was too late.
Police also said there have been cases of people who agree to deposit a cheque from a suspect into their own personal bank account and then hand over cash, not realizing at the time that the cheque was fraudulent.
London police said so far, three complaints have been made. They were all from people who were approached by a suspect while walking along Richmond Street, between Dundas Street and Fanshawe Park Road.
“The London Police Service would like to remind the public that agreeing to withdraw funds from a bank account for a stranger is very risky, and usually ends up in a situation where the victim loses money,” read a release from London Polic Service.
Anyone who experienced a similar incident is asked to contact London police at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).