NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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On June 29, 2021, Waterloo Regional Police received a report of an online scam.
On June 28, 2021, the complainant received a Facebook message from a friend. The friend advised that they received money from a foundation and encouraged the individual to apply to receive money from the same foundation.
The complainant was sent a link to an online application that required submitting personal information, including their date of birth, driver's licence number, address and other details.
Upon completing the application, the individual was said to be approved for a certain amount of money but would be required to pay for shipping. The complainant then realized that it was a scam and their friend's Facebook account had been hacked.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service is reminding the public not to click on odd links or provide personal information online unless they are sure the request is legitimate. If you receive a message from a friend or someone known to you that seems out of character, please take the time to verify the request with the individual.
For more information about ongoing scams, please visit Ongoing Scams - Waterloo Regional Police Service (wrps.on.ca).
Frauds can be reported online at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report fraud and cybercrime (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) or the Waterloo Regional Police Service's Online Reporting tool: Online Reporting - Waterloo Regional Police Service (wrps.on.ca).
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