Northumberland OPP is reminding residents to remain cautious as fraudsters continue to use new and evolving tactics to target the public.
Police say they have recently received reports involving several types of scams, including suspected artificial intelligence-generated phone calls, fraudulent investment opportunities, online marketplace scams, phone upgrade scams and fake prize notifications.
In one recent case, a resident received a phone call believed to have used AI-generated voice technology to solicit donations for wildfire relief efforts. Police say the caller appeared convincing and attempted to create a sense of urgency, although no financial loss was reported.
The OPP says criminals are constantly changing their methods to gain trust and obtain personal information, banking details or money.
Police are warning residents to be especially careful of unsolicited calls, emails and text messages, even if they appear legitimate.
Common scams include fake phone upgrade offers asking for account information, online marketplace transactions involving unusual payment requests, and investment opportunities promising high returns with little risk.
Police also remind residents that legitimate contests do not require winners to provide banking information to claim a prize.
The OPP encourages people to independently verify requests using official contact information, avoid clicking unknown links and discuss suspicious communications with a trusted person before taking action.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of fraud is encouraged to contact their local police service and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
