Fraud attempt in Guelph stopped by store staff

The Guelph Police Service is investigating a fraud attempt that was stopped by alert store staff.

Police said the victim was contacted Tuesday morning by someone posing as a bank representative, claiming there had been unauthorized activity on their account. The caller instructed the victim to obtain a temporary password for online banking.

The victim was then told to purchase two $500 Apple gift cards and to say they were gifts if questioned. While attempting to buy the cards, store staff recognized the scam and advised the victim to call police.

Investigators said a fraudulent $500 withdrawal was later discovered on the victim’s account.

“Residents are encouraged to be wary of any telephone call, email or text which requires you to take immediate action. It is always best to independently contact the supposed sender and confirm the legitimacy of the correspondence before taking action,” police said in a media release.

Anyone who suspects they may be a victim of fraud is encouraged to contact their local police service and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.