BEWARE OF SCAMMERS

The municipality is reminding residents to be aware of ongoing fraud campaigns in the Kawartha Lakes community. There have been reports of a phone scam in which Canadian residents are informed through a telephone call that there is a policy in Kawartha Lakes that states that if an individual purchases agricultural land in the municipality, the government will grant them a free truck and house. The municipality would like to state that this policy does not exist and that this is a scam.

Kawartha Lakes Police Service has also advised of another ongoing scam in the area. Parishioners of the Diocese of Peterborough, specifically St. Mary’s Church in Lindsay, are reportedly receiving emails appearing to be from local priests, requesting donations through the purchase of online gift cards. Please do not respond to any request that is received by email under the name of a priest asking for money, as these emails are not coming from the Diocese of Peterborough Clergy or staff email addresses.

Scams can take many forms and can be initiated by telephone, email, text message or at your door. Scammers are imaginative and manipulative. They often aim to create urgency in order to get the information they want.

Scammers are trying to obtain your credit and bank card numbers and PIN numbers in order to access your accounts. Scammers are also trying to obtain enough personal information about you in order to steal your identity. Do not provide personal information including, but not limited to, birthdates, social insurance numbers and passwords.

Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) website at www.antifraudcentre.ca to learn more about how to protect yourself against fraud.

To report a scam or fraud, please contact the Kawartha Lakes Police Service at 705-324-5252 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.