A Lambton County resident has been bilked out thousands of dollars after becoming a victim of an emergency scam.
The Ontario Provincial Police said officers were called to a Joe Street home in Petrolia on Sunday after the resident was contacted by a scammer over the phone.
According to authorities, the victim received a call on Friday from an individual claiming to be their son in need of bail money following a motor vehicle collision. The victim was directed to a lawyer who claimed to be handling the case.
An individual posing as a court employee visited the victim’s residence that same afternoon and collected $6,000.
The suspect is described as a woman in her 40s with a heavy build and brown hair.
Police advise everyone to check with another family member or trusted friend to verify information before sending money or providing credit card information. It is also important to report possible scams to allow police to investigate and prevent others from becoming victims.
Anyone with information regarding this incident that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact Lambton County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
