Social Media Scams
The Economic Crime Unit of the Thunder Bay Police Service would like to remind the users of social media platforms to be vigilant and aware that fraud can happen anytime and anywhere.
There have been recent reports of criminals impersonating legitimate friends on platforms such as Facebook to try and convince the recipient, through an online message, that they are in need of money or other financial help. While this isn’t a new crime, it is one of the many ways that criminals get creative in trying to take advantage of you.
Our advice is simple. If a “friend” messages you asking for money, personal information or other data, you have a choice to make. Slow this process down and get verification of who you are communicating with. Be vigilant and careful, even if a message or email appears to be coming from a trusted source.
Protect your social media and other online accounts by changing your passwords on a regular basis and make those passwords complex. We all complain about having to remember new passwords, but there are a number of good products out there to help you securely manage all that login information.
In Ontario, the following government website offers you useful information and a way to report scams.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/report-scam-or-fraud
Be smart and be safe online!