The Thunder Bay Police Service is warning the public about an ongoing scam involving alleged employment recruiters.
Police have learned victims are contacted by fraudsters claiming to have job opportunities. In many of these cases the fraudster tells their target they are a recruiter with a local car dealership.
In several reported incidents, the fraudsters used the identity of a real local person and real local car dealership during a Skype interview.
The exact nature of how this scam unfolds remains under investigation, but at some point the victim may be asked for a payment. The request from the fraudster, in at least one case, has been in the form of gift cards.
Remember, you have the right to hang up on any unsolicited callers or deny and block any unsolicited online contacts.
If you believe the person may be legitimate, find their contact information independently and contact them to verify they are who they claim to be. Never use contact information provided by the suspected fraudster and never rely on your phone’s Caller ID display, which can easily be spoofed.
The Thunder Bay Police Service strongly encourages residents to speak with potentially vulnerable family members and friends about these ongoing scams. Fraudsters are experts at creating a sense of panic, or providing their targets with a too-good-to-be-true opportunity.
If you are concerned about potential scams and want to learn more please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/).