Extortion fraud targets local Asian students
Posted Oct 13, 2022 11:05:00 AM.
Regional police have issued a warning about an extortion scam targeting Asian students at local post-secondary institutions.
Last month, police received a report from someone who told them fraudsters had extorted them out of $75,000.
Those running the fraud identified themselves as a member of the Shanghai police. The victim was then told there was a suspicious package linked to them, and they would need to send funds to clear their name and avoid being arrested.
Police received five reports of the scam between September and October, with losses totalling approximately $478,000.
Anyone who has any information is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Police add that law enforcement agencies will never demand payment from you.
The rest of the details were contained in a news release:
Do not send money and follow these tips:
- Do not follow instructions from automated callers speaking Mandarin
- Beware of requests to send funds to bank accounts in China or Hong Kong
- Do not give out personal information, especially banking information, over the phone
- Ask for the information in writing
- Hang up
