Police are warning of a new scam targeting businesses and employees. Someone calls, claiming to be from head office, or the corporate office, they may claim to know the owner or the manager, and then they say the business owes money. They may claim it’s owed for a variety of reasons, including payment for a shipment of goods. They pressure the employee to pay with either business or personal funds, implying there could be heavy financial penalties if the payment is not received. They may ask for a wire transfer, a prepaid credit card or an etransfer. Police say be cautious when handling such calls, as two businesses fell victim to this scam recently. OPP remind you to beware any calls that express an urgent situation requiring immediate attention, employers should educate workers at every level to be wary of such calls, give authority to only certain members of staff to approve purchases or pay bills and make sure your employees know how to verify requests for money or payment. If you think you or your business has been victim of a fraud, contact the authorities.
