South Bruce OPP report stunt-driver; and warn of fraud

POLICE LAY STUNT-DRIVING CHARGE

(ARRAN-ELDERSLIE, ON) - March 11, at 12:11 p.m., a South Bruce OPP officer on patrol along Bruce County Road 3 in Arran-Elderslie, noticed a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed. The vehicle's speed was displayed on radar at 136 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.

A 32-year-old Municipality of Saugeen Shores resident was charged with Stunt-Driving.

This charge includes an immediate 30-day driver's licence suspension and an immediate 14-day vehicle impoundment.

DON'T PAY THE CON-ARTIST

(SOUTHERN BRUCE COUNTY, ON) - March is Fraud Prevention Month, and the South Bruce OPP is asking residents to be mindful of the cons and scams that are attempted every day.

The numbers as reported by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
 

• In 2021, Canadians lost a reported $384-million dollars to Fraud
• In 2022, Canadians lost a reported $530-million dollars to Fraud
• In 2023, Canadians lost a reported $554-million dollars to Fraud

Canadians have seen a steady increase in dollar losses to Fraud over the past three years. Considering that only about 10 per cent of Fraud is reported, the actual dollar losses are considerably higher.

Through the first two months of 2024 (Jan. 1 to March 1), residents of Southern Bruce County have already lost $105,000 to cons and scams.

Tech-savvy scammers use technology to create very convincing schemes to trick you into sending them money. They will commonly use the name of a real company, or a person's name you recognize, to gain your trust so that you will send money or personal information to them.

A quick and easy way to prevent Fraud? Verify any contact that you aren't expecting.

The South Bruce OPP is offering the following tips to help protect you from a con-artist:
 

• If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. 
• Remember that you can't win a contest that you didn't enter in the first place.
• If you have a concern about your computer, take it to a reputable repair shop for service. Never provide remote access to a "tech" who calls you out of the blue.
• Gift cards are a red flag. If someone contacts you and directs you to buy gift cards, you need to hang up the phone/shred the letter/delete the E-mail, etc.
• Your best defence is to verify any unsolicited contact. Unsolicited means that you didn't ask for it.

Fraud is a multi-million-dollar enterprise that will end only when the scammers stop making money.

Anyone interested in more information about fraud, can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or check on-line at www.antifraudcentre.ca/.

The South Bruce OPP is requesting anyone with information to call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web-tip at www.cstip.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.