A pair of scams reported over the past week has left local residents out thousands of dollars and prompted a warning from police.
The Peterborough Police Service says in one case, a victim received a call believed to be from their bank claiming their cards were compromised. They were instructed to place the cards in an envelope for pickup. The envelope was collected overnight between March 13 and 14, and nearly $17,000 was later reported lost through fraudulent transactions.
In a separate incident, another resident received a text about possible credit card fraud before getting a follow-up call from someone posing as a bank fraud specialist. The victim was asked a series of questions and told their card needed to be seized. After cutting the card in half and handing it over to a courier, about $3,000 was lost.
Police say these scams rely on urgency and pressure, urging people to slow down and verify any suspicious communication.
Residents are reminded to contact their bank directly using the number on the back of their card rather than any number provided in a call or text. Anyone who believes they have been targeted is encouraged to report it to police through the online reporting system.
