Scammers have been quick to cash in on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), as well as a few other pitches they’d been keeping in their back pocket.
Killaloe OPP are sharing info about the CERB scam, which involves a third party company that will offer to assist you with government applications.
These companies then send you an invoice for their services. These companies only pretend to be associated to the government.
If they trick you out of your information they can uuse your stolen identity to open bank accounts, and submit applications to the CERB in your name.
The scammer may not directly come out and ask you for your vitals, more than likely they will send you an email or text with a linkthat request your personal information.
Filling this out gives them carte blanche for identity fraud.
Also making the rounds are a variety of non-delivery scams- PPE is a favourite at the moment.
In these scams, you are asked to send one payment after another, and told the money is needed to cover the cost of shipping, certificates, or insurances. In the end, you never receive your item.
Warning signs include blow out sale prices, spelling errors, and if it’s a furry companion- pets offered at below market value.
If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre.ca.