Provincial police say a woman from Huron County received a message on social media from someone pretending to be her relative. Officials say the scammer told the woman that she received a $100,000 cheque from the United States Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance, and that she qualified because of her spouse’s disability. The scammer then told her to contact the CFDA to see if she also qualified.
The woman then received a friend request from someone pretending to be an employee at the CFDA and said she qualified – all she had to do was wire $1000 to someone in New Brunswick. After several messages, scammers told her to send $13,000.
She later went to police after discovering it was a scam. Officers say the CFDA does not use social media or phone calls to review or make awards.
If you suspect your might be the target of fraud, you can make a report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
If you want to report a fraud, or if you need more information, contact the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre (CAFC) by calling 1-888-495-8501, reporting it online at the CAFC’s Fraud Reporting System or by contacting your local police service.